Facebook Scam Affects a Friend

[Minnie]

Facebook Scam Hits Memphis Woman

Shaun Chaiyabhat
9:26 PM CDT, July 6, 2009

• FAST FACTS:
• Woman's Facebook page hacked, hacker begs for financial help
• Friends asked to wire cash to London
• "I did feel safe because I felt like I was among friends."

(Memphis 7/6/09) A woman's first brush with online social networking began innocently enough, but a scam cost her friends hundreds.

It started with an urgent plea for help coming from DeAnne Gammon's Facebook page. The messages said the Memphis mom, who appeared to be stranded in London, was in desperate need of a friend -- and cash. Facebook friends were told "cash and cell phone were stolen" and "I need $800". The internet chats began around 2 a.m. while the real Deanne Gammon was asleep in Memphis. The woman had just joined the online site Facebook, but it wasn't long before a scammer hacked into her account.

"I'm just really astonished that this could happen and it could happen to anyone. The really scary thing is that anyone who could look at my Facebook page also knows a lot of information about me."

But the hacker didn't have everything at his fingertips. Tech-savvy friends got suspicious, and when the hacker couldn't answer simple questions, they picked up the phone. But by the time Gammon heard her page had been hacked, the scammer hit up at least five people, and one had taken the bait.

"She had gotten in her car, driven to a grocery store with a western union and wired $500 to the hacker in London."

Gammon doesn't know how the hacker stole her online identity, but knows she made it easy. For years, she kept her passwords the same. Feeling invaded and exposed, now she's changed her passwords and the way she lives online.

"You just have to be careful of what you put on the internet. I know I'm going to be a lot more conscious from now on."

Experts say internet users should change passwords once every three months. Gammon emailed Facebook, who apologized and sent her a new password. She has also filed a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) | Home
Copyright © 2009, WREG-TV

[Rita]

.
eye-opener!

.

[Jdarg]

People fall for that? Really?

If my friends were having an emergency, they wouldn't use FB to sound the alarm. It is social networking, not the main source of emergency contact.

Stupid is as stupid does.

[Minnie]

I agree, of course I don't use Facebook, due to the large amount of viruses one gets from its usage but thought it was worthy to share, to let others know that the sites can be hacked.

Of course the lady, who I do not know, that sent the money was not Net savvy as many aren't and was taken in, she was not aware that the site could be hacked and someone pretend to be my friend, Mrs. Gannon.

[Jdarg]

I don't get any viruses from FB- weird stuff on FB is as easy to spot as the ridiculous e-mails from Nigeria claiming they have millions of dollars for you if you answer a few questions. People that are that naive are going to get screwed through the mail or over the phone just as easily!

[SWGB]

I gotta say that I love all my facebook friends, but would need to get a phone call or talk to them first.

Edit:

Sowal.com is probably much easier to hack (sorry kurt) than facebook, and I'm betting we wouldn't be rushing down to the bank to wire money.

[kathydwells]

I have had a Facebook page for months. I have never gotten a virus. Good anti-virus software is a must.

[Lynnie]

My FB friends can beg for money, but they ain't getting any here.

On another note, I got a virus through FB - so do be careful, Y'all!

[Gidget]

What an interesting story Minnie! I'm on facebook - have been for years ( other FB'ers out there!)

I use Linux - open source software instead of microsoft and I never have to have virus checkers or worry about hackers (and it is FREE - I don't have to pay for microsoft!) Also, I don't put much personal info on facebook. I don't have my phone, address or a bunch of other stuff. I mostly have PICS and find it a great way to keep up with folks I've known for years and new friends (I even have some from this forum!! )

LOL I can't imagine one of my friends writing that and me getting up and driving to the ATM in the middle of the night! I know the lady feels terrible for the whole thing= even though it wasn't her fault.

Thanks for the warning! I will be sure not to fall for this if Lynnie begs me for $$ some late night!

Gidget

[Johnrudy]

Very interesting story and an eye opener for sure.

I have heard from our IT guys at work (who are devoted FB users) about the viruses from FB and say they are rampant. Hackers can bypass any good virus protection, especially freeware.

In the year that I've been on FB I've had 3 people ask to be friends and I had no idea who they were. Then there are kids, like my son, who have about 600 friends. I'm sure a few years back he accepted anyone who contacted him.

It goes w/o saying, you must be vigilant about changing your passwords frequently. We change ours every 8 - 12 weeks at home and at work. It is a PITA.

[Will B]

In the year that I've been on FB I've had 3 people ask to be friends and I had no idea who they were. Then there are kids, like my son, who have about 600 friends.

If I have not met a person face to face or have had correspondence that warrants "friending" somebody, I don't accept them. I call those who send requests to friends of friends for the sake of networking "collectors". I don't understand why you would friend somebody you don't know. Amazingly, I have over 400 friends. My wife cannot believe that I know that many people on a first name basis, but I stick to my criteria and, believe it or not, do know every single person on my list.

the only way to get a virus from FB is to click on a link in a message that takes you someplace else to get it. On another note, all the little apps (little green plant, send a drink, fling a thong, the myriad of quizzes...) are all little programs. Programs deliver viruses. FB has given people the ability to make their own apps. I got rid of every single one (app) a long time ago and ignore every request that comes my way. Best to be dilligent, and it helps to keep your computer clean...

[Johnrudy]

If I have not met a person face to face or have had correspondence that warrants "friending" somebody, I don't accept them.

.
You are correct - - I didn't accept their friendship.

.

[Alicia Leonard]

Dear Everybody,

I am stuck in DeFuniak. Please send money.

AL

[Mango]

Dear Everybody,

I am stuck in DeFuniak. Please send money.

AL

You can work on my farm....

[Gidget]

Dear Everybody,

I am stuck in DeFuniak. Please send money.

AL

I couldn't find a smilie that went with FAT CHANCE!!! LOL I always wanted to use that one.


Funny post

Regarding "friending" - I HAVE accepted "friend requests" from people I don't "know". Some of them are the most cherished. I met them in a group I started about raw food and we've become very close. Regarding those "quizzes" etc... and apps. Best to leave them be. I need to do some cleaning up I am sure and I too, ignore the requests for this or that.

G

[scooterbug44]

I gotta say that I love all my facebook friends, but would need to get a phone call or talk to them first.

Edit:

Sowal.com is probably much easier to hack (sorry kurt) than facebook, and I'm betting we wouldn't be rushing down to the bank to wire money.

If someone posted a Sowal plea for help, we would dispatch the nearest Sowaller or Sowaller relative/friend to help them - not send cash over the internet.

[Alicia Leonard]

You can work on my farm....

I'm a bad farmer. My watermelons died

[Jdarg]

Dear Everybody,

I am stuck in DeFuniak. Please send money.

AL

Give me your SS# and bank routing number, and I will send you a million.

I'm a bad farmer. My watermelons died

I don't have a farm. I can't figure it out!

[Gidget]

I'm a bad farmer. My watermelons died

[Will B]

Point of interest that I should have made earlier but did not...

A scam takes advantage of a person's gullibility.
A virus is a program or a string of code.

Minnie's friend was taken advantage of by a scam that lured her somewhere that took her FB ID. That's not a virus.

Either way, it sux, though...

[aggieb]

these types of scams always make me think of my grandparent's and how i would hate for anything like this to happen to them. however, my grandmother is sharp as a tack, mean as a snake and not one thing gets by her and she's almost 90. grandfather same way and he's almost 95. so, i guess my point is that some people are just more skeptical than others. it's a good thing to always have some kind of guard up.

[scooterbug44]

People try and trick old people all the time by deliberately sending them stuff that looks like a bill, but is really a solicitation or subscription. Really pisses me off.

[Miss Kitty]

Point of interest that I should have made earlier but did not...

A scam takes advantage of a person's gullibility.
A virus is a program or a string of code.

Minnie's friend was taken advantage of by a scam that lured her somewhere that took her FB ID. That's not a virus.

Either way, it sux, though...

Agreed. I am now receiving the NOgerian email pleas. They go in my spam box, which I am prompted to check every three days to delete. One did slip through.

Some people will fall for anything.

[Lynnie]

I am rarely on FB and always have a bunch of requests when I do finally get there. Usually don't answer all of them - virus I got came through the FB inbox from a childhood friend, so I did open it - Y'all beware out there! There are definitely nutbags......and, if I ask for money, I do expect you run out in the middle of the night and transfer to my account in Nigeria. However, if you ask for money, don't expect anything here.

[Alicia Leonard]

Who Knew? Got this last week.

DEAR LEONARD,


Sequel to your non response of our earlier letter to
you on behalf of the Trustees and Executors to the Will of
our late client Dr PHILLIP LEONARD. Who before his most
unfortunate death, deposited as family belongings in a bank
in Hungary, the sum of Seventeen Million United States Dollars,
with the hope of transferring it to his country as soon as he
is on leave.


Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for
over 2 years now. I seek your consent to present you as the
Next of Kin of the deceased, since you have the same last
name as my late client, so that the proceeds of this deposit
be SENT to your own benefit. All Legal documents to aid your
claim of this fund and to prove your relationship with the
deceased will be arranged for. Your help will be appreciated
with 40% of the total sum. All that I require is your honest
cooperation to enable us see this deal through.

Please accept my apologies, keep my confidence and disregard
this email if not interested. However, if you do agree to this
term, please include your phone and fax number in your response
for better communication.


Regards to you and your family.


Watson Lane
Unity Munkáccsy Chambers,
1051 Budapest II. Gábor Áron utca 55.
HUNGARY

[Lynnie]

I received one from the Philippines and the guy sent me his passport. I forwarded to the Bank of Hong Kong. Actually got a response from the Bank that this guy has been doing this for a quite a while.

[Will B]

Who Knew? Got this last week.

DEAR LEONARD,


Sequel to your non response of our earlier letter to
you on behalf of the Trustees and Executors to the Will of
our late client Dr PHILLIP LEONARD.

Hey...I know Phil. That bat-turd owes me a lot of money!

[Mermaid]

Maybe one day, if I'm very lucky, I will be "stranded" in London. Crooks these days lead the soft life!

[Lynnie]

Mermaid, you can be stranded in SoBuc and ask me for $5 to get a bus ticket.......yes, I have been 'taken' before!

[Minnie]

The sharing of this message was not for the Net savvy.

It was shared for that one person who might react before thinking and if it helps one person be aware that Facebook and any website can be hacked then it was worth sharing.

Any website can give a virus and if you have not gotten one you are lucky, but that does not mean they are not out there. And you can get them without opening any emails, simply by visiting the site.

Just a warning to keep your virus and spyware protection up to date. You can get them from playing games on Facebook or using the Chat feature or as Lynnie said from opening a message from a friend.

I am sure many use Facebook and never have problems with viruses, but that does not mean it does not happen anymore than saying I have never had an accident means they don't happen either.

The lady scammed out of the money, I do not know personally, I know Mrs. Gannon from church. Her friend that reached out to help her, is elderly and reacted with her heart before thinking.

But I have to wonder if any of us got a text message from a friend saying they were broke down and could not get a signal to make a call and needed help, would we ignore it, because we would automatically know it is a scam.

[Mermaid]

Mermaid, you can be stranded in SoBuc and ask me for $5 to get a bus ticket.......yes, I have been 'taken' before!

We all have! I'd rather be "taken" out to lunch, though. I think I'll take you up on your $5 offer. Skip the bus but not the martini, please.

[Lynnie]

We all have! I'd rather be "taken" out to lunch, though. I think I'll take you up on your $5 offer. Skip the bus but not the martini, please.

OMG and this lady was sooooo smart to be in the high rent district at the post office when the post office didn't take credit cards - cash only!

Come on down, we'll have $15 martinis

Minnie, sorry about your friend, but I think everyone on sowal is internet savvy - I am not completely sowal savvy, but that's ok.

And, if someone sent me a text from another country about this dilemma, I would tell that person to go to the US Embassy and seek help. Then, I would question why you are paying international texting charges instead of popping into an internet cafe and email blasting your entire inbox of contacts. I am savvy in other areas. Elderly people can be taken advantage of; that's sad.

[Minnie]

Minnie, sorry about your friend, but I think everyone on sowal is internet savvy

I am sure everyone that responded is, but many, many people read and do not respond, if it helps that one person be aware it served its purpose.

[Alicia Leonard]

.

I am sure everyone that responded is, but many, many people read and do not respond, if it helps that one person be aware it served its purpose.

Thanks, Minnie. I would not have sent money, because I am broke, but I would have sat up all night worring about them

[Johnrudy]

Thanks, Minnie. I would not have sent money, because I am broke, but I would have sat up all night worring about them

It never hurts to be reminded to be on our toes!

[Gidget]

Thanks, Minnie. I would not have sent money, because I am broke, but I would have sat up all night worring about them

Excellent point about the worry aspect!

G

[sunspotbaby]

I'm a new user of FB and I appreciate the heads up Minnie. Thanks.

[aggieb]

I'm a new user of FB and I appreciate the heads up Minnie. Thanks.

coming to find you!

[Lynnie]

Ooooh, me too, Aggieb.

[SHELLY]

Do people actually use Facebook to solicit money from their "cyber friends?"

...that being the case, I can chalk up another reason why I choose not to get chummy with strangers on "social networking websites."

.

[Miss Kitty]

Do people actually use Facebook to solicit money from their "cyber friends?"

...that being the case, I can caulk up another reason why I choose not to get chummy with strangers on "social networking websites."

.

...not a big fb user, but I find that unlikely. This scam is as old as dirt. It's been used via telephone, snail mail, email and on the streets forever. My guess is that some people turn off their bs radar and let their bleeding heart radar take over.

SHELLY...I promise to never ask you for money. I only ask that you keep posting your .02 here and making me laugh.

[Imatrucountrygirl]

I am a FB user and have no viruses or any kind of the spam.. but any such emails/messages the you receive you can forward them to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov
just an fyi for you....

[kathydwells]

Do people actually use Facebook to solicit money from their "cyber friends?"

...that being the case, I can caulk up another reason why I choose not to get chummy with strangers on "social networking websites."

.

SHELLY, I understand your skeptisism, I really do. I am assuming your are talking about SoWal.com as well in the "social networking website" category.

Can I just tell you though, not that you don't know, but I will tell you anyway. I have met some dear, dear friends through this site. Yes, I have met some of them in person and feel closer to some of them, than friends I met in "real life". I never would have thought that would happen, but it did and I am glad.

A little comman sense goes a long way when dealing with people. Some people have a stronger BS radar than others. It is sad that some people get taken advantage of, but before they act, they should THINK!

p.s. It is my life mission to see your smiling face someday.

[Lynnie]

Well, on FB you can choose (sort of) who interacts and there are no angries or ridiculous statements regarding sensitive issues....if there are and they appear on your page, you simply delete it. I am on FB about once or twice a month. I might start asking Miss Kitty for food.

[Miss Kitty]

SHELLY, I understand your skeptisism, I really do. I am assuming your are talking about SoWal.com as well in the "social networking website" category.

Can I just tell you though, not that you don't know, but I will tell you anyway. I have met some dear, dear friends through this site. Yes, I have met some of them in person and feel closer to some of them, than friends I met in "real life". I never would have thought that would happen, but it did and I am glad.

A little comman sense goes a long way when dealing with people. Some people have a stronger BS radar than others. It is sad that some people get taken advantage of, but before they act, they should THINK!

p.s. It is my life mission to see your smiling face someday.

Wonderful post...and so true! Who knew such genuine friendships would have a start on the little message board that could! Darlene...when I tell my "real life" friends about this phenomenon, they smile weakly and say that's cool or that's nice!

Well, on FB you can choose (sort of) who interacts and there are no angries or ridiculous statements regarding sensitive issues....if there are and they appear on your page, you simply delete it. I am on FB about once or twice a month. I might start asking Miss Kitty for food.

Ask me for bottle caps and buttons, please! I don't cook anymore, remember?

[scooterbug44]

I am a FB user and have no viruses or any kind of the spam.. but any such emails/messages the you receive you can forward them to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov
just an fyi for you....

I find this hard to believe as I am NOT on Facebook and I still get multiple pieces of supposed Facebook spam a week!

[Lynnie]

Wonderful post...and so true! Who knew such genuine friendships would have a start on the little message board that could! Darlene...when I tell my "real life" friends about this phenomenon, they smile weakly and say that's cool or that's nice!



Ask me for bottle caps and buttons, please! I don't cook anymore, remember?

I'm not sending any caps and stuff - only do that with Mango cause she really really enjoys it and that's groovy. She needs some trees right now.

The friends that I stay in touch with on FB go back to childhood and it's wonderful! Comment I deleted was from a fabulous GF who was trying to be funny, but wrote an off-color comment. No problem and no hurt feelings.......


Miss Kitty, can you and DD make us some ribs and send 'em over? Thanks!

[Smiling JOe]

Did you guys know that Webster's Dictionary recently removed the word, "gullible?"

[Gidget]

Still and all - excellent thread as a "heads up" and to be aware (for those who are more likely to not think that such things happen) THX again Minnie! I find these stories fascinating!

OK - so many of you are on FB?? I have a few new friends from this forum on FB - I am not a scammer if you want to say howdy sometime!

Gidget

[Lynnie]

Gullibility is a sign of intelligence and trust; both great qualities!