This seems to be a newer scam where the scamster hacks into someone's e-mail id, retreives his/her contacts and then creates a new-mail id from another domain. Then impersonating the person, he sends an e-mail.
For e.g if your contact's name is ABCEDF and e-mail id is
abcdef@gmail.com, the hacker creates an e-mail account using the same name and same id at hotmail or any another e-mail service provider., let's say
abcdef@hotmail.com and sender name also becomes ABCDEF. Writing style will also be the same, The only thing that will give it away is if you check the e-mail's domain name.
My dad received an e-mail apparently from one of our business client's personal secretary in her own writing style (fonts, punctuations and grammar was the same) and it seemed suspicious. Read on.
Coming to the point, my dad received an e-mail from the contact like this:
Quote:
On Mon, Nov 26, 2018 at 11:28 AM D**** S**** <d****s****@yahoo.co.in> wrote:
Hi,
Where are you right now, can i ask you for a favour?
D****
|
My dad knew something was wrong and he replied with a Yes.
The reply came like this:
Quote:
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: D**** S**** <d****s****@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, Nov 27, 2018 at 2:06 PM
Subject: Re: HELP
To: XXXXX <XXXXXX@gmail.com>
Glad to read from you, It's me D**** S**** from XYZ Industries, ABCD Divsion it has been a terrible situation. I've been having some sort of network issues with my phone because I'm presently out of town and in between flights to Naingappur, Nepal. Just got to know from a relative of mine that her daughter is to undergo surgery (C/S) and there are already short of funds. Sorry to be bothering you with this, but obviously there's no one or nothing to turn to at this point. I have asked and the hospital would only proceed once a bank transfer has been validated by their bank.
I have tried using my internet banking options but the system keeps denying the transaction probably because I'm outside India. Please I will need you to help me with the transfer from your end and I shall have the money returned once I'm back home by next two week. I will like to know if you can help with this so I can send the required details.
P.S. Required funds for the surgery amounts to Rs 93,800. (But please transfer Rs 100,000/- just incase of miscellaneous) please let me know how much you can help me with now.
Waiting for your mail,
D****
|
MY dad knew this was a cheating attempt and simply replied by saying he does not have the funds not does he know here well to trust her with an amount like this.
That was the end of it.
I wanted to trouble criminals like this and went about trying to find out who this guy was by playing with him for the past one week, I made a fake e-mail id myself and replied to the original mail saying that "I can help". After a couple of mails later, the hacker gave away his bank details to transfer that amount.
Quote:
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: D**** S**** <d****s****@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, Nov 30, 2018 at 12:08 PM
Subject: Re: HELP
To: Ramachandran Govindan <XXXXXX@gmail.com>
Extremely sorry for writing back late due to circumstances beyond my control here, Thank you so much. I have received the bank details. Below is all that is required for transfer:
Bank name: Union Bank of India
Account name: Chander Pal.
Account number: 727102010003650
ifsc code: ubin0572713
Pan number: AIKPA7072C.
Branch: Ghaziyabad raj nagar
Please forward the transfer slip (or screenshot of transfer) for confirmation so that the hospital can go on with the surgery. Thank you so much for your kindness. I'll be paying back once I'm back home by next two week.
Thanks,
D****
From: Ramachandran Govindan <XXXXXX@gmail.com>
Sent: 30 November 2018 05:34 AM
To: D**** S****
Subject: Re: HELP
Waiting for your bank dtls to transfer the funds
.
On Tue, Nov 27, 2018 at 2:06 PM D**** S**** <d*****s****@hotmail.com> wrote:
Glad to read from you, It's me D**** S**** from XYZ Industries, ABC Divsion it has been a terrible situation. I've been having some sort of network issues with my phone because I'm presently out of town and in between flights to Naingappur, Nepal. Just got to know from a relative of mine that her daughter is to undergo surgery (C/S) and there are already short of funds. Sorry to be bothering you with this, but obviously there's no one or nothing to turn to at this point. I have asked and the hospital would only proceed once a bank transfer has been validated by their bank.
I have tried using my internet banking options but the system keeps denying the transaction probably because I'm outside India. Please I will need you to help me with the transfer from your end and I shall have the money returned once I'm back home by next two week. I will like to know if you can help with this so I can send the required details.
P.S. Required funds for the surgery amounts to Rs 93,800. (But please transfer Rs 100,000/- just incase of miscellaneous) please let me know how much you can help me with now.
Waiting for your mail,
D****
|
I made a dummy Net banking NEFT transfer receipt and sent it to the guy yesterday evening stating since it was late yesterday, it will get credited to the account today morning.
Since then, I have received three
desperate e-mails from him today at half an hour intervals stating :
1> he checked the account, he has not received funds.
2> asks me to check with my bank why no funds were credited to his bank account.
3> send him the debit alert SMS from my account.
Probably with the third e-mail, he suspected something is wrong. I sent him an e-mail stating that the funds have come back to my account for some technical reason.
That fool fell for that too and said he will check with the bank for that NEFT return. He gave me his alternate bank details or that He will "VERY GREATFUL & OBLIGING" If I can arrange for hard cash at Ghaziabad, now he is losing his impersonation skills and his "command and polish" over English
.
Quote:
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: D**** S**** <d*****s****@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, Dec 4, 2018 at 12:01 PM
Subject: Re: HELP
To: Ramachandran Govindan <XXXXXX@gmail.com>
I have received another bank details, Please i was told she's going through a lot of pain and the surgery will be done as soon as money has been transfered.
Bank name: Punjab national bank
Account Name: Babita Sharma
Account number: 2051000100415777
Ifsc code: Punb0205100
Pan number: DVZPS5749S
Branch: Shastri Nagar Ghaziabad
Please forward the transfer slip (or screenshot of transfer) for confirmation.
Or If you can arrange cash here in ghaziyabad, I will be very greatful and obliging
Thanks,
D*** |
I will play with him further and drag this drama further because such criminals deserve to be duped.
Please be careful when you received e-mails like this from your contacts asking for extremely urgent funds transfer or card details. No matter how urgent it seems, please speak to them personally and check. Criminals can go to any lengths to make money like this.