My sister is stranded in Wales...

[Gerry]

I got an email from someplace supposedly in Wales.

The email claimed that my sister (gave her full name and address) arrived in Wales. The email went on to say that the airline lost her luggage including their passports and money.

The people who sent the letter were supposedly a hotel that my sister had booked.

They were calling on behalf of my sister and wanted money wired to the hotel or else my sister had no way to pay for the rooms booked.

I was, of course, concerned and would do anything to help.

The odd part was she did not tell me she was going to Wales. Her husband is a Colonel in the US Army so anything is possible I guess and she does accompany him on many trips. She has two children, one in college and one in Junior High.

More importantly, and what really struck me as odd, is why she would be going this time of year. She teaches braille to blind children and school is still in session.

Anyways, I called my other sister in Virginia Beach who only lives about 15 miles away from the sister stranded in Wales. I knew she could fill me in on what was going on.

When I told her about the email, she just started laughing hysterically and said, "wait a minute" and put my other sister (the one supposedly stranded in Wales) on the phone.

[Adam Dicker]

They tried that same scam on my facebook contacts when m,y facebook account was hacked. Told everyone I needed money and would pay them back when I returned.

-=DCG=-

[Tia Wood]

My grandparents received a similar phone call from my "brother". It's creepy. These scam artists are getting smarter.

[Gerry]

This had to be another facebook or some social network privacy issue. Perhaps hacked an account along with contacts.

[Tia Wood]

This had to be another facebook or some social network privacy issue. Perhaps hacked an account along with contacts.

Not sure but my brother doesn't have online profiles. I am not sure how the heck they got his information. Or my grandparent's. My grandparents don't even own a computer.

[Ulysses]

I got an email from someplace supposedly in Wales.

The email claimed that my sister (gave her full name and address) arrived in Wales. The email went on to say that the airline lost her luggage including their passports and money.

The people who sent the letter were supposedly a hotel that my sister had booked.

They were calling on behalf of my sister and wanted money wired to the hotel or else my sister had no way to pay for the rooms booked.

I was, of course, concerned and would do anything to help.

The odd part was she did not tell me she was going to Wales. Her husband is a Colonel in the US Army so anything is possible I guess and she does accompany him on many trips. She has two children, one in college and one in Junior High.

More importantly, and what really struck me as odd, is why she would be going this time of year. She teaches braille to blind children and school is still in session.

Anyways, I called my other sister in Virginia Beach who only lives about 15 miles away from the sister stranded in Wales. I knew she could fill me in on what was going on.

When I told her about the email, she just started laughing hysterically and said, "wait a minute" and put my other sister (the one supposedly stranded in Wales) on the phone.

Hi Gerry, after seeing your headline i was going to come to your sister's rescue as i live in wales but i read the rest and i could see it was a hoax. I'm glad all is well with your sister.

[CamMK27]

Wow now this is something. These scammers are becoming smart and slick. Glad that you called your other sister to confirm
this. I guess the scammers use the emotional tactics to get to some people and I am pretty sure a lot of people do fall for it.
Now this is a serious privacy issue.. Very scary.

[Gerry]

Hi Gerry, after seeing your headline i was going to come to your sister's rescue as i live in wales but i read the rest and i could see it was a hoax. I'm glad all is well with your sister.

Thanks, mate. But I was prepared to do what ever I could to wire money, etc. I was also curious why my sis was not contacting her own bank.

I have been on Facebook perhaps 6 times in the last year. But I guess it is not only what I have entered for information but also what other have entered on me.

Not quite clear on how or why it happened. I have two brothers and two sisters so not sure how I got connected in all of this.

---------- Post added at 04:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:11 PM ----------

Wow now this is something. These scammers are becoming smart and slick. Glad that you called your other sister to confirm
this. I guess the scammers use the emotional tactics to get to some people and I am pretty sure a lot of people do fall for it.
Now this is a serious privacy issue.. Very scary.

It was actually very probable. And the scammers could actually have been staying at the hotel mentioned. Imagine, wiring money to a legitimate establishment but in the name of a registered guest. Everything on that end would have seemed completely ordinary.

Or perhaps even someone in the area who would pop into the hotel and claim that they received word that a letter was delivered to that location by accident.

Who knows how complex and deep this was or where the scammers were actually located.