Anyone get these messages? What do you think?

[look 171]

Hello,
How are you? Do you have any time to devote to a particular situation concerning me and discreetly by mail? I'm in such trouble that I would not know what to do without your personal support and contribution.
I am still waiting for an urgent response from you.
Thank you in advance,
Hillary


This is from a past client of more then 6 years ago. The name is correct, but I am not sure about her email. I just can't see how she can be in any trouble. I communicated with her through only once or twice while they lived in France when we worked on their home here in Pasadena. I responded to it after thinking about it for a bit. What's the worst it can happen if its bogus?

Jeff

[sc_rufctr]

I would guess her email has been hacked.

A friend of mine who had passed away "sent me" a similar email 9 months after she had departed this world. (hot mail)

Fuchers...

[slodave]

Email addresses are most likely spoofed, not hacked.

[look 171]

what's the reason for this? Any harm on my end by responding?

[slodave]

Yeah, you respond and your email gets routed to a email (bad) server out there and is known to be a good email address. Soon your email is sold to other spam lists over and over. It's the basic "phishing" technique.

[look 171]

Ah ****. Thanks Dave.

[look 171]

No way to stop this?

[slodave]

Don't respond.

If in doubt, call your client!

[look 171]

I already responded.

[slodave]

I know. You're effed. Hopefully, mildly.

In the future.... Call your client, before responding! This is a positive thing, for both of you.

[look 171]

Thanks Dave.

[john70t]

fyi, there was a bunch of "Help I'm stuck in London with no money" spoofs a few years back.

For now- talking with someone on the phone is good enough to confirm someone's I.D.
Later- aggregated collected habits through decades of domestic spying, AI, and voice impersonation software will manipulate the depths of human interaction.