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August 10, 2009

Connie Crosby

New Email Scam Takes Advantage of Toronto Professional

According to CBC News and The Canadian Press, a newer type of email scam has taken advantage of a Toronto-based medical professional. The fraudster hacks into the person's email account, changes the password so the person cannot access it, and then sends email to that person's contacts. The fraudster, posing as the email address owner, claims to be stuck in a foreign city and needing financial assistance to get home. He or she asks for a modest sum, enough to purchase a plane ticket home, and has it transferred via a Western Union account. Out of 400 people contacted in the Toronto medical professional's list, two people sent $2,500 each.

According to the Canadian Press story:

The scam can occur with any kind of email account, too, whether Hotmail, Rogers or Bell. In one case, an account owner supplied the password in response to an email that seemed legitimate, Barnes said.

"Whatever password they can get their hands on, they will access and take over that account."

A few pointers:

  • never give your password out to others
  • change your passwords regularly
  • if you are stuck in another country and need a friend to help get you home, call rather than email.

Connie is the principal of Crosby Group Consulting and is also a law librarian, writer, teacher and speaker specializing in social media, knowledge management and information management. She is author of the book "Effective Blogging for Libraries" part of the award-winning Tech Set published by Neal-Schuman in 2010.
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2 Comments on “New Email Scam Takes Advantage of Toronto Professional”

  1. Omar Ha-Redeye says:
    August 10, 2009 at 12:17 pm

    Dear Connie,

    I am stuck in Mexico while articling interviews are occurring in Toronto.

    Please send $2,500 via Western Union to Guadalajara.

    Thanks.

  2. Connie Crosby says:
    August 10, 2009 at 10:06 pm

    Oh, sure Omar….hey, wait a minute! ;-)

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