Scam email re Google Play Card

pineapple

Got a scam mail supposedy from friend asking for a 'quick favour' (spelt 'favor'). The address checked out when you hovered the cursor over it as did the return path etc and even his business logo was as it should be. I responded asking what and in reply he/she/they asked if I could get hold of a Google Play card for them. This time the email address was slightly different - they had replaced the 'w' in his name with 2 'v's. So any response would have gone to this new address. Fiendish.   Fortunately I didn't proceed. Apparently this scam or variations of is becoming quite prevalent.

Plus my friends email was trashed in the process - all his messages disappeared. Something else to bear in mind.  

tacpot12

Yes, this form of scam, where someone's email is hacked and emails are sent asking to all their friends asking for help with something do seem to be more common. Don't respond. Do alert your friend. 

Remember that the most common way for email accounts to be hacked is using a password that you use on other systems. Don't do this. Change your email password to something that cannot be easily guessed and is not used to access any other system.

pulliptears

This is an old one.  Someone gained all the email addresses for DH's work colleagues and sent out an email from one of the bosses stating he needed these Google Play cards asap.  As at no point in the company history has anyone ever had the need for one it was spotted very quickly indeed.  Must be at least 3 years ago.