Latest Scam Using the Internet

Metro Manila, Philippines - A new scam using the internet, particularly Yahoo email accounts, is circulating these days.

On December 10, 2009, I received an email bearing the name of a police officer I met and worked with as news source a few years back at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters.

The email was entitled NEED HELP, and contains the following:

Am sorry i didn't inform you about my urgent trip to London, i don't have much time on the pc here,so i have to brief you my present situation which requires your urgent response actually, I had a trip to London but unfortunately for me all my money got stolen at the hotel where i lodged due to a robbery incident that happened in the hotel.I had been so restless since last night because i have been without any money moreover the Hotel's telephone lines here got disconnected by the robbers and they are trying to get them fixed back i have access to only emails at the library because my mobile cant work here so i didnt bring it along,please i want you to help me with money so please can you send me 1350 Pounds so when i return back i would refund it back to you as soon as i get home,I am so confused right now and dont know what to do, I had been to the embassy and they are currently looking into my case,Please you can send it through Western Union Money Transfer so i will get it immediately its sent,i want you to please help me transfer the money as soon as possible.Here is the details you need for the transfer below,

Receivers Names:(Name of the Police Officer)
Receivers Address: 103 Harley Street City- London
Country- UK
Zip Code- W1G 6AJ

Please get back to me as soon as you have the money sent,once you are done with the transfer just help me to scan a copy of the receipt given to you by Western Union or help me to write out the Money Transfer Control Number(MTCN)

I will be waiting for your help. Thank you so much
Best Regards

(Name of the Police Officer)
Philippine National Police
Northern Police District

From the looks of it, I knew it is a scam. It would be impossible for the police officer to seek help from me because we are not really that close.

Later, I saw on television a news report about Filipino performer Jamie Rivera (Mary Jane Mendoza, in real life) almost falling prey into the said scam. You can check out the report on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfCZ_c1Etls

Ms. Rivera's family and relatives received an email supposedly from her, informing them that she needs financial help and containing directions how and where to send money. Good thing that her family and relatives confirmed first the content of the email by calling her.

Ms. Rivera explains that her email account could have been hacked after she responded to an email that she thought came from Yahoo itself, an email that I think is similar to what I have been receiving, containing the following:

Dear Valued Member,

Due to the congestion in all Yahoo! users accounts, Yahoo! would be shutting down all unused accounts. In order to avoid the deactivation of your account, you will have to confirm your e-mail by filling out your Login Info below by clicking the reply button. The personal information requested are for the safety of your Yahoo! account. Please LEAVE all information requested.

Username:
Password:
Date Of Birth:
Country Of Residence:

After you must have followed the instructions in the sheet, your Yahoo! account will not be interrupted and will continue as normal. Thank you for your usual co-operation. We apologize for any inconvinience.

Yahoo! Customer Care
Case number: 8941624
Property: Account Security
Contact date: 11-12-2009

This email that I got bears the subject, Yahoo Security!!! Verify Your Account Now!!!, and came from esloboh@yahoo.com, using the name "Yahoo Mail!!".

This morning, a colleague from the media also reported through her Facebook account that she received the same email supposedly coming from her husband (who was actually just sleeping in their bedroom at that time). Minutes later, her husband, upon her prompting, could no longer access his email account.

I write this to alert everyone about this latest scam. For everyone's safety, please do not respond to the emails above, particularly that which requires your username and password.

Let us also make it a habit to confirm emails such as those that seek financial help.

I hope this article helps./END