Stranded Friend Scam
Thursday, December 2nd, 2010
Recently I saw on Facebook that an old high school friend's account had been hijacked. His wife posted a something about it because who ever was hijacked it was trying to scam people.
A few hours after I saw her message, he starts chatting with me. Sure enough I got the "I'm stuck in a foreign country and need money to get home" story. I was working on our e-rate stuff and some other programming projects that day so I was going to be at my desk for a while, so I decided to play along and see how long I could string this guy along.
| [Him] | |
| 10:30am | |
| hey@ | |
| hey! | |
| are you there? | |
| [Me] | |
| 10:31am | |
| what's up rus? | |
| [Him] | |
| 10:31am | |
| not too good at the moment | |
| [Me] | |
| 10:31am | |
| no? | |
| what's wrong? | |
| [Him] | |
| 10:32am | |
| i'm in a deep mess at the moment | |
| [Me] | |
| 10:32am | |
| howso? | |
| you alive over there? | |
| [Him] | |
| 10:36am | |
| Are you aware I'm in London | |
| I am stranded in London | |
| [Me] | |
| 10:36am | |
| really? what are you doing there? | |
| when did you go? | |
| [Him] | |
| 10:37am | |
| I traveled to London on visit and got mugged at gun point | |
| [Me] | |
| 10:37am | |
| oh no! are you ok? | |
| [Him] | |
| 10:37am | |
| All cash,credit card and cell phone were stolen off me | |
| [Me] | |
| 10:37am | |
| :(:( | |
| [Him] | |
| 10:37am | |
| i have a little bruises on my hand | |
| [Me] | |
| 10:38am | |
| do you still have your passport? | |
| [Him] | |
| 10:38am | |
| It was a brutal experience.........Thank God i still have my life and passport safe | |
| i'm freaked out here.......my return flight leaves in less than 3hours from now | |
| [Me] | |
| 10:38am | |
| what time is it over there right now? | |
| [Him] | |
| 10:39am | |
| I need your help | |
| [Me] | |
| 10:39am | |
| ? | |
| [Him] | |
| 10:39am | |
| I was wondering if you can loan me some $$ to sort out my hotel bills and get a cab down to the airport | |
| Promise to refund back immediately i return back today. | |
| [Me] | |
| 10:40am | |
| sure no problem...but there is no way I can get it to you in time to make your flight | |
| [Him] | |
| 10:40am | |
| the time is 3:40pm | |
| I think you can have it wired to on my name through western union | |
| Do you know any western union outlet near you | |
| all you need is my name and location | |
| [Me] | |
| 10:41am | |
| no I don't... | |
| how about you give me your bank account number and routing number and i'll deposit some money in your account | |
| [Him] | |
| 10:42am | |
| you can have it done online | |
| log on to www.westernunion.com | |
| got it | |
| [Me] | |
| 10:43am | |
| sorry that website isn't loading for me | |
| is there another way? | |
| [Him] | |
| 10:44am | |
| you can google the nearest location near you | |
| or have it done online wit your credit card | |
| [Me] | |
| 10:45am | |
| I got a better idea...since you online you can sign into your bank's website and get your creditcard number and use that to pay your hotel bill | |
| That's what a normal person not trying to scam someone would do | |
| [Him] | |
| 10:45am | |
| All cash,credit card and cell phone were stolen off me | |
| [Me] | |
| 10:46am | |
| since i had lunch with your yesterday... | |
| in the united states... | |
| how much money are you looking to get anyway? | |
| [Him] | |
| 10:47am | |
| $$1450 | |
| [Me] | |
| 10:47am | |
| that's quite a hotel bill, how long have you been there? | |
| [Him] | |
| 10:49am | |
| i also want to use it to take a cab to the airport | |
| [Me] | |
| 10:50am | |
| a cab or a limo? how long have you been there? | |
| [Him] | |
| 10:51am | |
| also sort other bills | |
| [Me] | |
| 10:51am | |
| like what? | |
| [Him] | |
| 10:52am | |
| please i have limited time here | |
| [Me] | |
| 10:52am | |
| hey westernunion website just loaded for me! | |
| so what do I have to do? | |
| [Him] | |
| 10:53am | |
| you have to register first | |
| select send money | |
| [Me] | |
| 10:53am | |
| ok | |
| [Him] | |
| 10:53am | |
| all you need is my name and location | |
| [Me] | |
| 10:54am | |
| ok give me the name and location exactly how it needs to be | |
| [Him] | |
| 10:54am | |
| Name:******* ***** | |
| Location:United kingdom,London | |
| got it | |
| ? | |
| [Me] | |
| 10:54am | |
| Not your full name? | |
| ...still registering | |
| [Him] | |
| 10:55am | |
| that all you need | |
| [Me] | |
| 10:58am | |
| omg this registration is taking forever | |
| it says I can only send 999.99 | |
| [Him] | |
| 11:00am | |
| ok send it | |
| [Me] | |
| 11:00am | |
| but that won't be enough... | |
| do you need 1450 us dollars or uk pounds? | |
| [Him] | |
| 11:02am | |
| pounds | |
| [Me] | |
| 11:02am | |
| ok, what's the current conversion rate? Do you know? | |
| [Him] | |
| 11:03am | |
| they use pounds here | |
| Please can you have the 999 sent now? | |
| [Me] | |
| 11:03am | |
| im working on it | |
| they say it'll cost $68 dollars to do the transfer...is that part of the $999? like then you'll only get $931?? | |
| which hotel are you at? | |
| [Him] | |
| 11:07am | |
| are you doing it | |
| [Me] | |
| 11:07am | |
| just finishing the form | |
| ok I just sent it! | |
| OH SHIT | |
| [Him] | |
| 11:07am | |
| how long will it take you | |
| ? | |
| [Me] | |
| 11:08am | |
| I sent it to United Aarb Emirates by mistake!!! | |
| it was right above the UK in the list | |
| omg | |
| what do i do? | |
| [Him] | |
| 11:08am | |
| resall it | |
| recall it | |
| back | |
| [Me] | |
| 11:08am | |
| how? | |
| [Him] | |
| 11:09am | |
| you change it | |
| [Me] | |
| 11:09am | |
| lemme call that fucking number on teh screen and see if I can stop the payment | |
| [Him] | |
| 11:10am | |
| you can change it | |
| [Me] | |
| 11:10am | |
| I'm trying | |
| did you know money in united arab emirates is called "dirham"? weird | |
| Lemme try this again | |
| [Him] | |
| 11:12am | |
| ok | |
| [Me] | |
| 11:14am | |
| ugh, not working | |
| I think that first charge through me over my credit limit.... | |
| lemme call my bank | |
| are you being charged by the minute to use internet at the hotel? | |
| [Him] | |
| 11:16am | |
| i'm in a local library using there computer to reach out friends for help | |
| [Me] | |
| 11:17am | |
| ok good, i thought your bill was steadily going up by the second | |
| I'm on hold with the bank... | |
| did you find anyone else to also help you out? | |
| dude did the librarian kick you out or something? | |
| [Him] | |
| 11:24am | |
| i'm freaked out here | |
| [Me] | |
| 11:25am | |
| me too! | |
| ok | |
| [Him] | |
| 11:25am | |
| right now am mentally disorder i can't think straight | |
| [Me] | |
| 11:25am | |
| just got off the phone with the bank...they temporarily upped my credit limit | |
| [Him] | |
| 11:26am | |
| can you have the money sent now please | |
| [Me] | |
| 11:27am | |
| working on it | |
| [Him] | |
| 11:27am | |
| ok | |
| [Me] | |
| 11:27am | |
| how do you plan on repaying me by the way? | |
| like when should i expect it? | |
| what do you think a fair interest rate is? | |
| [Him] | |
| 11:28am | |
| Promise to refund back immediately i return back today. | |
| [Me] | |
| 11:30am | |
| just in case...I think 15% compounded continuously is fair. what do you think? | |
| [Him] | |
| 11:30am | |
| ok | |
| [Me] | |
| 11:31am | |
| tell me your mothers maiden name in lieu of a signature our new verbal contract... | |
| shit...my boss is calling...gimme a minute | |
| [Him] | |
| 11:36am | |
| are you there? | |
| [Me] | |
| 11:42am | |
| sorry buddy | |
| had to get rid of my boss | |
| ok sending now | |
| I'm assuming you didn't tell your wife because you don't want her to worry | |
| [Him] | |
| 11:44am | |
| how long with it take you to have it done | |
| [Me] | |
| 11:45am | |
| it just said "within minutes" | |
| can you check now? | |
| you there? | |
| [Him] | |
| 11:48am | |
| yes | |
| [Him] | |
| 11:53am | |
| u there? | |
| [Me] | |
| 11:54am | |
| yeah, did you get it? | |
| [Him] | |
| 11:54am | |
| no | |
| can i have the mtcn number | |
| email it ti me | |
| here is my id ****@operamail.com | |
| are you there? | |
| [Me] | |
| 11:57am | |
| i didn't see a mtcn number....where is it? | |
| [Him] | |
| 11:57am | |
| the western union will give you a 10 digit number | |
| [Me] | |
| 11:58am | |
| lemme look around for it | |
| [Him] | |
| 11:59am | |
| i will pick up the money with the mtcn and my passport | |
| [Me] | |
| 12:00pm | |
| ok i found it | |
| 1848485571 | |
| [Him] | |
| 12:01pm | |
| what about the senders name | |
| [Me] | |
| 12:02pm | |
| it's my name | |
| [Him] | |
| 12:04pm | |
| can you send me the scanned receipt | |
| u there? | |
| [Me] | |
| 12:05pm | |
| what scanned receipt? | |
| [Him] | |
| 12:05pm | |
| it not tracking | |
| [Me] | |
| 12:06pm | |
| WHAT? | |
| [Him] | |
| 12:06pm | |
| can you send me the full details | |
| [Me] | |
| 12:06pm | |
| where is my money then? | |
| you have all the details i have.... | |
| [Him] | |
| 12:08pm | |
| can you send me the sender's name: | |
| receiver's name | |
| mtcn# | |
| are you there? | |
| ?? | |
| [Me] | |
| 12:14pm | |
| dude | |
| myname is the sender | |
| yourname is the receiver | |
| 1848485571 is the # | |
| [Him] | |
| 12:22pm | |
| please can you email me the full details and amount | |
| they are asking me at the western union outlet | |
| are you there? | |
| are you there? | |
| ?? | |
| [Him] | |
| 12:40pm | |
| ?? | |
| [Me] | |
| 12:40pm | |
| sorry | |
| i just sent the email | |
| [Him] | |
| 12:42pm | |
| i did not see it | |
| [Me] | |
| 12:42pm | |
| maybe it'll take a few minutes | |
| [Him] | |
| 12:43pm | |
| ******@operamail.com | |
| please cam you sent me the following details | |
| sender's name | |
| receiver's name | |
| mtcn# | |
| amount sent | |
| please | |
| [Me] | |
| 12:44pm | |
| I just sent it again | |
| still nothing? | |
| [Him] | |
| 12:45pm | |
| on this email *****@operamail.com | |
| u there? | |
| are you there? | |
| i did not see the mail | |
| [Me] | |
| 12:48pm | |
| did you check your spam folder? | |
| [Him] | |
| 12:49pm | |
| yes | |
| ok send it to my in box on facebook | |
| [Me] | |
| 12:50pm | |
| what time is your flight? | |
| [Him] | |
| 12:51pm | |
| 6:45pm | |
| [Me] | |
| 12:54pm | |
| dude, it's almost 6, youre never going to make it | |
| [Him] | |
| 12:55pm | |
| i will once i get the money | |
| hello | |
| ?? | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:00pm | |
| check your email again...it should be there | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:01pm | |
| not there? | |
| no there | |
| are you kidding me? | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:03pm | |
| I'm not kidding you, I'm trying to help you!! | |
| how long of a cab ride is it to the airport? | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:04pm | |
| 20min | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:04pm | |
| ok, let me send this again just to make sure. | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:05pm | |
| send it to this id ******@operamail.com | |
| got it | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:12pm | |
| are you there? | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:12pm | |
| yup | |
| i send it again to ******@operamail.com | |
| nothing yet? | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:13pm | |
| yes | |
| can you sen it to me now on facebook | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:14pm | |
| shit my boss again...brb | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:14pm | |
| please i have limited time here | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:21pm | |
| Hello | |
| Are you there? | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:30pm | |
| you are kidding me | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:32pm | |
| Dude, im TRYING here...not easy to avoid the boss and help when Im supposed to be working | |
| did the email show up yet? | |
| it's the same info as I sent you in this chat... | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:33pm | |
| no | |
| you did not sent the money | |
| you did not send the money | |
| you are kidding me | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:34pm | |
| :):) | |
| me? no, im not kidding | |
| youre the one who is kidding | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:35pm | |
| Are you aware I'm in London | |
| how | |
| ? | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:35pm | |
| I spoke to you on the phone 2 hours ago | |
| youre a scammer | |
| rusty isn't in london | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:36pm | |
| fine so wat abt dat | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:36pm | |
| so what about what? | |
| do you actually find people dumb enough to send you money? | |
| like is this profitable at all? | |
| i wouldn't mind getting in on it if it was | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:37pm | |
| so how | |
| ? | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:37pm | |
| i dont understand the question | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:37pm | |
| i wouldn't mind getting in on it if it was | |
| how can u | |
| i luv ur baby | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:38pm | |
| that's MY question, how do you start scamming people like this? | |
| is it easy? | |
| thanks! she's really cute | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:38pm | |
| looks preety | |
| can u help me i will stop scaming | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:39pm | |
| depends, what do you need help with? | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:39pm | |
| money | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:39pm | |
| dude, we all need money | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:40pm | |
| i need to go back to school | |
| and my my younger sis | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:41pm | |
| take out student loans | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:41pm | |
| they dont give here | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:41pm | |
| what country? | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:42pm | |
| if i should tell u will you sent the money | |
| ? | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:42pm | |
| probably not | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:42pm | |
| kk | |
| you dont need to no | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:42pm | |
| *know | |
| that's ok | |
| so how did you get Rusty's name and password anyway? | |
| I've always been curious about that | |
| did you guess it? | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:43pm | |
| it a brain | |
| work | |
| do u want me to give you one | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:44pm | |
| please share...i'd love to know how a smart person like yourself does this | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:44pm | |
| if you want to u av to pay | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:44pm | |
| omg seriously...you're charging for every answer now? | |
| does my previous 3 hours of roleplaying count for nothing? | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:45pm | |
| bcos i need money | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:45pm | |
| sell something there is a demand for | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:45pm | |
| please just help me | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:45pm | |
| what is in high demand in your country? | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:46pm | |
| i dnt no | |
| pay first | |
| i need to get and facebook and scam them | |
| ok | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:47pm | |
| but does it actually work? | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:47pm | |
| 9ice chatin wit u | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:47pm | |
| have you gotten ANY money from this? | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:47pm | |
| yes | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:47pm | |
| really?! | |
| how much? | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:47pm | |
| but it been long | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:47pm | |
| huh? | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:47pm | |
| cos i stped it some tine ago | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:47pm | |
| ok | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:47pm | |
| cos i stoped it some tine ago | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:48pm | |
| but have you gotten any since you started pretending to be Rusty? | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:48pm | |
| so i need money and i av to com back | |
| no | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:48pm | |
| how many people have you tried? | |
| as rusty | |
| all of his friends? | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:49pm | |
| many but they dnt av enough money | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:49pm | |
| yeah, i bet | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:49pm | |
| they only av 250 busk | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:49pm | |
| have you tried just getting a job? | |
| that's what i did | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:49pm | |
| yes | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:49pm | |
| how did that go? | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:50pm | |
| they did not give d job | |
| so i av to eat | |
| dats y i came back to scaming | |
| u there? | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:51pm | |
| yeah...times are tough | |
| well.. | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:51pm | |
| can you help me | |
| please in the name of God | |
| so dat i will stop scaming | |
| poeple | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:52pm | |
| Rusty's wife already posted that his account has been hijacked, so you're not going to get anywhere with Rusty's account. Would you consider giving it back to him and moving on? | |
| consider it a favor for me? | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:53pm | |
| can you also help me | |
| with 500$ | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:53pm | |
| $500!! | |
| that's a bit steep | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:53pm | |
| i wil get it back to him | |
| or can i chat wit him | |
| i am beging you in the name of god | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:54pm | |
| how about you just be a nice person and give it back. If you need to continue scamming, move onto the next account and leave rusty alone | |
| set his password to "rusty" | |
| if you do that... | |
| and he is able to login and reclaim his account, Then i'll consider giving you some money | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:55pm | |
| are you going to give me money | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:55pm | |
| only after i see he has gotten his account back | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:56pm | |
| when you send the noney i will give it to you then you will give it to him | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:56pm | |
| no | |
| he gets the account first | |
| you're the untrustworthy person here | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:57pm | |
| let make a deal | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:57pm | |
| that's what I'm trying to do! | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:57pm | |
| i will give you my phone you have to call me first | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:58pm | |
| why? | |
| what do you have to lose? i don't understand | |
| like i said, his account is useless to you now, all of his friends know you hijacked it and that he really isn't in stranded in london | |
| [Him] | |
| 1:59pm | |
| if i can use i wil deactivate dis he wont be able to use 4eva | |
| [Me] | |
| 1:59pm | |
| why would you do that? | |
| [Him] | |
| 2:00pm | |
| dat how i do tins | |
| but bcos of you i wont dat | |
| i will give it to you | |
| i'm about going | |
| here id the details | |
| name:***** ****** | |
| location:united kingdon,london | |
| amount:$500 | |
| or $450 | |
| tell rusty | |
| [Me] | |
| 2:03pm | |
| dude, I'm disappointed | |
| I'm not going to pay a ransom for his fb account....and he isn't either. | |
| BUT | |
| if you give back the account, or give it to me, once it's back in his hands I'll consider sending you some money | |
| [Him] | |
| 2:03pm | |
| but what | |
| i got to go | |
| take care | |
| [Me] | |
| 2:04pm | |
| ok | |
| sorry | |
| you had the chance of getting money | |
| but decided not to go that way | |
| [Him] | |
| 2:05pm | |
| i will deactivate dis acct | |
| [Me] | |
| 2:05pm | |
| :(:( | |
| [Him] | |
| 2:05pm | |
| i dnt trust u | |
| so i can | |
| [Me] | |
| 2:05pm | |
| me?! | |
| [Him] | |
| 2:05pm | |
| t | |
| [Me] | |
| 2:05pm | |
| how can i trust you? | |
| you've been trying to scam me all day | |
| be the bigger man and give it up | |
| show that you aren't just a heartless scammer | |
| [Him] | |
| 2:06pm | |
| his wife did not past any thine on his wall | |
| u lied to | |
| [Me] | |
| 2:06pm | |
| no | |
| she posted it on HER wall | |
| [Him] | |
| 2:06pm | |
| any way i dnt need d acct any more | |
| [Me] | |
| 2:06pm | |
| and because you removed her as his wife you wouldn't see it | |
| if yo don't need it...give it to me | |
| i'll give it back to him | |
| [Him] | |
| 2:08pm | |
| i saw every tim u wroat | |
| [Me] | |
| 2:08pm | |
| what? | |
| [Him] | |
| 2:09pm | |
| Joe Reid He msged me this morning. I've been stringing this guy along for HOURS while doing stuff at here at work... | |
| [Me] | |
| 2:10pm | |
| yeah...just like you've been doing to me | |
| i knew you were a scammer from your first msg | |
| [Him] | |
| 2:10pm | |
| wat do u want to say abt it | |
| fuck u | |
| [Me] | |
| 2:10pm | |
| awww | |
| don't be like that.... | |
| what do you expect? | |
| you're stealing his identity and trying to trick people out of money... | |
| and you're acting like IM the badguy... | |
| [Him] | |
| 2:11pm | |
| it bad u see someone who want to stop somtin you dnt want to help him it really bad | |
| [Me] | |
| 2:12pm | |
| i do want to help you, but i can't trust you because you already tried scamming me | |
| so you have to make the first move by giving up rusty's account | |
| [Him] | |
| 2:13pm | |
| i'm serious i cant scan you again | |
| i swear wit my life | |
| [Me] | |
| 2:13pm | |
| words... | |
| show that you're a better man by giving me the account | |
| [Him] | |
| 2:14pm | |
| let make adeal | |
| call me now | |
| [Me] | |
| 2:15pm | |
| why? | |
| [Him] | |
| 2:15pm | |
| let me give you my phone number | |
| 2:15pmRusty is offline. | |
| 2:15pmRusty is online. | |
| [Him] | |
| 2:16pm | |
| u there? | |
| [Me] | |
| 2:16pm | |
| yup...thought you went offline | |
| [Him] | |
| 2:17pm | |
| i deactivate it and cam back again | |
| i want to talk to him | |
| now | |
| [Me] | |
| 2:18pm | |
| you'll probably have to talk to his wife then | |
| because he's not here | |
| [Him] | |
| 2:19pm | |
| ok | |
| is she wit you | |
| [Me] | |
| 2:19pm | |
| no | |
| I'm at work | |
| [Him] | |
| 2:19pm | |
| how much do you want to send me | |
| 2:20pmRusty is offline. | |
| 2:24pmRusty is online. | |
| [Me] | |
| 2:25pm | |
| i dont really want to send you anything...I told you, I can't trust you, you have to give up his account to me first |
Our conversation ended when my friend got access to his account again. I'm pretty sure he used one of Facebook's recovery methods rather than Mr. Scammer giving the account back. He actually sent me a friend request from another account (either hijacked or just created) but I didn't accept it or contact him again.
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