So I got an email titled "I really need your help"...

NYSpeed Automotive NYSpeed Off Topic
1

This email is from an NYSPEEDer that I know and have spoken too several times through email and not just PM’s so I wasn’t surprised to see the email from him although I thought it was about a car. I have been getting quite a few SPAM/virus/junk emails lately so I don’t know if someone hacked my email or there is something else wrong. I use hotmail… any idea why this would be happening suddenly?

email text:
"Hi, I really don’t mean to inconvenience you right now but I made a
quick trip to the UK and I lost a bag which contains my passport and
credit cards. I know this may sound odd, but it all happened very
fast. I’ve been to the embassy and they’re willing to help me fly
without my passport but I just have to pay for my ticket and settle
some bills. Right now I’m out of cash plus i can’t access my bank
without my credit card over here. I have contacted them but they need
more verification. I’m just gonna have to plead with you to lend me
some funds right now? I’ll pay back as soon as I get home. I need to
get on the next available flight home.

Please reply as soon as you get this message so I can forward the
details as to where to send the funds. You can reach me via the
hotel’s desk phone if you can, the numbers are, 011447024076760 or
011447024093678.

I await your response…

Thanks
XXXXXXX"

2

No…if you think someone hacked your account you should change your password YESTERDAY! and not something simple.

3

This happened to a professor at my school with an email from another professor just a couple weeks ago, it is the person who sent the email who got hacked

It’s the new scam moving away from nigerian garbage.

4

“I await your response” is pretty much a dead giveaway.

5

yo mr basil, im stuck in ethiopia… i need your help, bail your broseph out… get at me dawg…

side note… im pretty sure if this were a true problem, id be calling family and close friends before sending out mass emails…

6

lol yea, stuff like that gets sent out from a virus/hacked deal.

Although, I’d be interested to call the number and ask for said person to see what happens :o
or turn it in to the po po

7

I googled the first phone number and this is the first hit:

http://pez.multiply.com/journal/item/280

“a new email scam”

8

Yeah, it’s not your email that got hacked, but someone else’s!

9

Soo did you contact them or not? They await your response!

10

“I’m in the UK but can you wire the money to my brother in Nigeria?”

11

Thanks for the help guys, I don’t know squat about computers…