Eagle Eye Investigations Proprietor Becomes Victim of E-Mail Scam

Leonel "Leo" T. Garza ex-City Commissioner who currently owns Eagle Eye Investigations Company situated at Brownsville, Texas (USA) recently became a victim of a scam e-mail, reported Brownsvilleherald.com dated September 2, 2011.

Understandably, cyber-criminals compromised the e-mail account of Garza and used it to dispatch a message across the country to all the addresses listed on Garza's contact list. The e-mail stated that Garza was touring in England when robbers attacked him and took away all his cash. They also stole his credit card; therefore, he was without any money for paying his lodging expenses as well as getting back home, the e-mail lied.

However, soon Garza's friends began calling him for knowing about his well-being and that's when he realized the e-mail was a scam. Garza immediately contacted the Brownsville Police Department of Texas and informed them about it.

The fake electronic mail also provided phone numbers which corresponded to Garza's own although they showed a different area code.

Describing the latest incident as a scam, Garza sought to get the public warned about the situation. Brownsvilleherald.com reported this.

Disturbingly, the online fraud, which struck Garza, according to security researchers, is called the "stranded traveler's scam." It is one version of the widely familiar "419 scam" or "advance fee fraud," they add, explaining that these involve attackers who hack into the potential victim's e-mail account and then dispatch fraudulent e-mails to his relatives as well as friends similar as in Garza's instance. The e-mails typically assert that the victim, while in a foreign country, is unable to leave the place because his money bag is stolen and therefore requires cash for returning home.

Consequently, to remain safe from the above online fraud, security specialists advise Internet users towards safeguarding their social media and e-mail account passwords. Further, incase anybody gets this kind of e-mail he should at first verify from his friend about the situation by contacting him directly. Additionally, victims of such scams must formally complain to the Federal Bureau of Investigation by visiting the agency's authorized website www.ic3.gov to help track down as well as catch the scammers.

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» SPAMfighter News - 9/13/2011