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You receive an email that “looks” like it came from a family member/friend/boss and they need your help. Well, of course you want to help. Small problem – it isn’t your family member/friend/boss and the only help they want is to help themselves to your money.
Act 1 – The hook
“Got a moment?”
“Are you available?”
“Are you free?”
When you respond they are in a rush, can’t talk, videoconference or meet in person.
Act 2 – The pitch for help
“I need you to help me out with something very important right from any store around. Let me know if you can do this.”
“I need you to run a quick task for me. Please send me an email as soon as possible.”
Act 3 – The excuses start
“I’m tied up.”
“I’m in a meeting and they don’t allow phones.”
“I need to send these but I haven’t been able to get them myself as I am stuck in the hospital with a relative who’s critically ill.”
Act 4 – The climax
“I need you to pick up 10 $100 Amazon/Steam/Apple/etc. gift cards. Scratch off the PIN and send the numbers/photos of the cards to me immediately.”
Moral of the story
Be politely paranoid with everyone in your trust circle. If you didn’t initiate the contact, you don’t know who you’re communicating with.
Email safety tips
Don’t buy in to the urgency.
If the sender is in a desperate rush for whatever they are asking you to do, that’s a good sign they don’t want you to have time to think.
