Update: After publishing this I wrote a column with a little more color and an abridged transcript.
I just got instant messaged by a scammer through Facebook. Here’s the gist of the scam:
- Someone IMs you on Facebook posing as a real friend – he has full access to the friend’s account, even having posted messages on his wall that he needs help urgently
- He says he got held up at gunpoint in London and needs cash wired to Western Union
In my case, when I wasn’t helping fast enough, he grew impatient, and he ultimately defriended me (from my real friend’s account). I proceeded to write any of his friends.
There are a lot of things that make it fishy. For instance, my supposed friend, an internet enterpreneur, somehow didn’t have a PayPal account. While initially I was new to the scam, most of the conversation was me trying to bide time and get more information out of him that may be useful for others.
This isn’t news – TechCrunch covered this back in January and there’s a lot of information out there – but I wanted to get this info out there in case it helps anyone else.
Below’s the IM transcript. I changed the name of my friend.
- - -
Walter
Hi there
5:27pm
David
hey how's it going Walter?
5:28pm
Walter
Well, In not good here
I need your help
5:28pm
David
what's up?
5:29pm
Walter
Im stuck here in London and I really need help with getting on a plane back home
5:34pm
David
how are you stuck? what can i do?
5:35pm
Walter
I had to visit a resort here in London on vacation and I got robbed at the hotel Im staying
5:35pm
David
oh no that's awful
5:35pm
Walter
Yeah, its really sucks and scary here
I got robbed at a gun point and all my money and stuffs got stolen but im lucky I still have my passport with me
Well, can I ask for a favor?
5:36pm
David
oh no
what do you need?
5:37pm
Walter
What i need now is just some cash to complete my tix till im back home to refund you nback
Can you help with some money?
5:38pm
David
yeah if you need it, your banks/credit cards can't come through with anything? how much do you need to get back?
5:39pm
Walter
$390 pounds is all i need more
Can you help with the money?
I can get it from the ATM for you first thing as soon as Im back home
5:40pmD
avid
that's fine, how can i get it to you
5:40pm
Walter
You can get it to me here using western union
You need just my name as written on my passport and the location here
Do you know how to go about with the western union thing?
5:42pm
David
no i'm looking it up now
and just to check, using paypal to transfer funds won't do anything for you right now right?
5:43pm
Walter
Oh k, Im glad you are helping \Dav
5:44pm
Walter
Western union is very easy to transfer money and to receive money
Just let me know when you are on their website
5:45pm
David
tell me something, if you're online, can't i just use paypal?
5:45pm
Walter
I don't have paypal acct
You can easily get it to me here using western union
5:46pm
David
so where should i wire the money to
5:46pm
Walter
Just my name as written on my passport and the location here
5:46pm
David
what's the location
5:47pm
Walter
United Kingdom London
5:47pm
David
okay well that's obviously not enough information, i'm sure they'll need me to be more specific
5:48pm
Walter
That all you need
5:48pm
David
how will they know where you are, i'm sure there are lots of locations in the UK
5:48pm
Walter
Do you know any western union location around you?
You will be given a confirmation number
5:49pm
David
yes i found many locations
i can help
tell me more about where you are
5:49pm
Walter
I'll be needing it to pick up the money he
You need just my name as written on my passport and my location here
Name:Walter Jenkins
Location United Kingdom, London
5:50pm
David
okay but there are many locations in london, tell me more about where you are
5:50pm
Walter
That's all you need
Yeah, I can pick up the money at any western union location
5:52pm
David
okay, great. so tell me why you only need 390 GBP if you were held up at gunpoint
5:53pm
Walter
I need it to complete my ticket and fly back home
5:53pm
David
how about i just buy you the ticket
i'll go online and buy it for you
tell me which flight you want, which airports
5:54pm
Walter
I'll need the cash for some things more
5:54pm
David
well if you already have some moeny for the ticket, use the money you have for the other things
i'll buy the ticket
you clearly already have some money you were going to use for the ticket anyway
now i'll buy the ticket
5:54pm
Walter
I just need the cash to change the date on my ticket
Just let me know if you can help with the money
5:55pm
David
i'll buy you a ticket
which airport are you in
5:56pm
Walter
Im in a library here using the comp here to get on facebook for help
5:56pmDavid
a friend of mine happens to be at heathrow right now, i just IMed him. can i have him meet you there
5:56pm
Walter
Heathrow
Well, Its okay if you can't help
5:56pm
David
i can help
what flight are you taking
5:57pm
Walter
B.A
Why can't you go to the store and have it done now?
5:57pm
David
what time is your flight?
5:57pm
Walter
Dav
5:58pm
David
what time?
5:58pm
Walter
I don't think you really want to help
Its okay
5:58pm
David
i'm going to buy you a plane ticket in your name, with your passport you'll be fine
5:58pm
Walter
I don't need it
5:58pm
David
why not? you got held at gunpoint
5:58pm
Walter
the manager will be helping me to purchase the ticket here
5:59pm
David
oh that is SOOO nice of him, then you can use your money to buy whatever else you need
which library are you at? that way i can look up how far you are from heathrow
6:02pm
David
You don't have permission to chat with this person.
still there?
