Got this in my email today:

Hi,

Just writing to let you know our trip to Madrid, Spain has been a mess. We were having a great time until last night when we got mugged and lost all my cash,credit card cellphone It has been a scary experience, I was hit at the back of my neck with a club. Anyway, I’m still alive and that’s whats important. I’m financially strapped right now and need your help. I need you to loan me some $$, I’ll refund it to you as soon as i arrive home.Write me back so i can tell you how to get it to me.

Regards, Kenneth

This is quite sad. Poor Kenneth. Stuck in a foreign country, no cash, no credit cards, so he can’t get home. I should send him some money to help out.

Except I don’t know a Kenneth. Even if I did (and this scam sometimes is from a name you recognize), not a good practice to send money to someone without verification. Unless you don’t care if you ever see that money again.

These types of messages might come to you from you “cousin” or “granddaughter”, and might include information that seems valid. But it is a scam.

Be careful out there!