I chat-mailed with an Australian friend for about 30 minutes. The conversation seemed perfectly normal, about family and general chit-chat. Just as I was about to sign off and go to bed she mentioned being contacted, and receiving money for a charity she supports. It sounded genuine, but I couldn’t believe that she just had to contact an agent and they sent her cash for the charity. She confirmed that it was true, and gave me the agent’s email address, telling me to apply. Bemused, I went to bed. The next day she announced that her Facebook Messenger had been hacked. I had been chatting, unsuspectingly, to the hacker! They must have studied her personal details, and her writing style, and they were so good that I never suspected a thing!
No doubt if I had contacted this ‘agent’ they would have asked for my bank details so that they could transfer the cash to me. It didn’t come to that, but I wouldn’t have been so stupid anyway.
Beware! They are out to get your money, and they can be damn good at deception!