Forum Topic

possible scam

Afternoon, everyone.  I had an email, supposedly from a friend, giving a sob story and asking me to buy something for her niece (I don't think she has a niece) as she was unable to do this. My friend's first email came from the email address I know, but the following ones didn't. Email exchange, and the last one to me asked me to buy 2 gift cards, totalling £400.00!  My friend is well educated, and the final email was not particularly well written. Obviously, no chance!  Does anyone know to whom I should report this probable scam?  Wanted to let you know, just in case whoever it is gets in touch with you!Best wishes

Carole Tanner ● 1516d6 Comments

Thanks, everyone.  Just to let you know her sister and probably everyone else on her contacts list, got the same email!!!

Carole Tanner ● 1515d

My go to rule is If you have to ask if it's a scam, it's a scam.It's very likely your friend's email account has been "phished" and has been compromised. If she still has access to her emails she'd be advised to change the password for a new unique long password THAT SHE HAS NOT USED ANYWHERE ELSE.

Mark Phillips ● 1515d

There are a number of variations on this fraud with scammers pretending to be ones boss, friend or relative ...https://www.getsafeonline.org/personal/articles/voucher-gift-card-scams/https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GGKDN3QZSKBFGNBFhttps://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/news/2021/07/gift_card_scams_explained/

Michael Ixer ● 1515d

Contacting the real people first should reveal if it’s fake or not but another idea is to copy a chunk of the message and Google it. It’ll list quite a few anti scam sites that will most likely confirm it’s fraudulent. They send these emails out in their thousands.

Freddie Francis ● 1515d

Thanks, Michael.  OK, I will contact her sister for her telephone number.  I have reported this scam to phishing@gov.uk.  Thanks again.

Carole Tanner ● 1515d

This sounds like a variant of the gift card scam. As was said earlier on the forum, if you think it might be a scam, it almost certainly is! Phone or text your friend. Don't use email as the scammers may have compromised your friend's email account and be responding to messages. 

Michael Ixer ● 1515d