Is this e-mail fraudulent? How can you tell?

Question

I'm a member of an online forum. Someone has e -mailed me from here to my direct e-mail address as they wish to be 'friends.' They claim to live in a senagal refugee camp..etc. They asked me my hobbies, likes and dislikes and sent me a picture, asking me for one in return. Does this sound dodgy?
I don't know if it's me being cynical by I find it hard to trust things like this. Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

I doubt very much that Internet access is high on the list of priorities for people living in Senegalese refugee camps.



So I'd say it is highly dubious and should be ignored



Kind regards

Answer 2

It may or may not be genuine and without the actual header there is no way for me to know. Median's list of what to do is ok but anything beginning 192. is not going to help you with location as this is simply a LAN address.

Unless you know what you are doing simply be careful. Give no personal details that positively identify you. Take poverty sob stories in an attempt to get some money from you as highly suspicious especially if Western Union is mentioned. Any phone number you are given is probably a mobile and the number will identify the network and country.

Do an Internet search to see if you can find the photo you were sent. It's surprising how many scammers use the same resources.

Answer 3

Although i'm completely cynical when it comes to this kind of stuff but i can see only a friendly request "so far".. i'll tell you what.. this might appear to be a bit technical but it's nessesary for every average user..



This is the method.. to verify the source of this message and compare with what they claim inside it :



1- Go to the message u received in yahoo



2- Look for a small text Under the message .. on the right side of prev-next-back that says "Full Header"



3- Click on it..



4- a long description will appear in the top of the message.. look for



Message-ID : some text..

Received : from [192.168.0.1] by web.yahoo.bla bla bla

Date : some date..



5- copy the number (IP ADDRESS) between the brackets 192.168.0.1 in this case..



6- go to http://www.geobytes.com/ipLocator.htm



7- paste the number in the field Ip Address to locate and press submit.



In less than two seconds you will know from where di that message generate exactly..



And remember as others told you.. NEVER share personal information like SSN or any form of financial info with someone you don't personally know..



Good Luck!

-----------------------UPDATE--------------------



For MSN Mail Services (Hotmail/Msn/Live) you can do the following:

1. Windows Live Hotmail must be in "Full Version" mode, not "Classic" mode.

2. Right click on the link to the message in the column left of the preview pane.

3. A drop-down menu will appear and at the bottom will be "View Source".

4. Click on "View Message Source" and the Full Header information will open in a new window.

5- Look for the 5th Line saying Received.. that's the IP address of the server or machine that generated the message and sent it to your mailbox at msn.

6- Sometimes you might find another Received Field under the first one.. that means the user had used a mail client like OutlookExpress or so and not using a webmail.. this one is more specific of course since it reveals the INTERNAL ip address of the sender.



P.S Graham: i used the 192.168.0.1 as a demonstration only.. obviously i will not use a real ip address in a public post.. "Security Basics" .. you never know who's browsing ;)

Answer 4

OMG...



EVERYONE is receiving these emails.



What's funny about it is that you'll get the same email, but with a few things changed.



It's sent from someone overseas. When they get all your info, they use it to steal right from your bank.



If ANYONE asks for so much personal info, it should be suspicious.



What genuine use would the obtaining of such info have?



Basically it's like someone walking right up to you and asking you to place $500 in their hand and take 20 steps back away from them, "...just for the heck of it."



It's obvious.



They use two tools in these schemes: the tendancy of greed, and gullibility.



"Greed" makes a person send their information anyway, even if the email is suspicious, because they don't want to "risk" losing the PROSPECT of a random inheritance.



"Gullibility" makes the person send the info, despite the fact that the likelihood of falling upon a randomly placed estate of a dead or dying person is like 1 in a million. They still believe it. So, unfortunately, these email schemes keep working, even though the news has reported on them a number of times.



I actually got one of these emails in a new tactic. It was threatening. It said that 'we have asked for your information several times, because we require it, and will report you to the FBI if you don't send it.'



Of course, I know without doubt that my sedentary life cannot possibly attract federal attention, so I thought about forwarding the email to the Feds themselves, but then just didn't bother. I mean, they can't stop them anyway. They also can't prevent gullible people from falling victim.

Answer 5

It does sound very suspicious, especially as this person claims to be in a refugee camp, and has internet access. I would think that they may be trying to "groom" you to give them money.

Delete the email, and think no more of it, which is what I do when I get them.

Answer 6

Treat it as 'spam' honey !



Basically anything you get in your email in-box that you DIDN'T ask for is spam - unless it from a company that you're familiar with - such as Microsoft, or your on-line friends.



Beware of any emails you get asking for '...donations to help me finish my schooling...' usually from African nations - like the ones I got last year (about twenty !)



Only EVER open emails from people or businesses you trust - dump everything else in the trash folder WITHOUT opening. That's how some people spread computer viruses !



Good luck sweetie !

Answer 7

wonderful solutions above, yet just to function, I never waste time even looking at my bulk folder. i presumed it became merely there to p.c.. up each and every of the unsolicited mail and scams like this, i do no longer difficulty to delete something because it gets emptied each and every so in lots of situations at once. If something like what you're describing lands on your everyday inbox although you rfile it as unsolicited mail immediately and don't open, because of the fact the others have pronounced.

Answer 8

They have a computer and an internet account access in a refugee camp?

I bet it comes from Nigeria...?

Answer 9

Mmmm, homeless, living in a refugee camp, but has internet access!

Dodgy - yes.

Answer 10

agree with other answers ~for info

If in Doubt you are probably right

this maxim helps as well

if i click once on this message i may end up clicking on "Re-Boot this computer"

have a nice day

Answer 11

If they ask for money or ANY personal information it is always a fradulant email.



A good rule of thumb is: if it appears too good to be true, it is.

Answer 12

Hi,



Assuming your Yahoo Settings are liberal then anyone can choose to email you.



Are they from Senegal and a genuine refugee? Maybe, maybe not.



This webpage may help you decide: http://www.joewein.de/sw/419-penpal.htm



Regards,



TgTips

Answer 13

Pffft, i received one of these and it's so obviously fraudulent, just delete it!

Answer 14

Delete that message right now!!!

It's spam.

Answer 15

hey hun well i think you should get to now him first

goodluck

Answer 16

don't reply!!!!!!!!!! delete or put in junk mail