Ok - maybe I should have posted in Finance but there is a wider audience here.
Received this e-mail this lunch time - quite convincing - except that I would have known if he was over here and (ii) airlines will cover lost tickets if stolen and reported to the police...never mind credit card replacements and AMEX cover you on a stolen card inside a day (had experience of that in Vancouver).
"Just hoping this email reaches you well, I'm sorry for this emergency and for not informing you about my urgent trip to London- United Kingdom but I just have to let you know my present predicament. Everything was fine until I was attacked on my way back to the hotel, I wasn't hurt but I lost my money, bank cards, mobile phone and my bag in the course of this attack. immediately contacted my bank in order to block my cards and also made a report at the nearest police station. I've been to the embassy and they are helping me with my documentation so i can fly out but I'm urgently in need of some money to pay for my hotel bills and my flight ticket home, will definitely REFUND as soon as back home .
Kindly let me know if you would be able to help me out so I can forward you the details required for a wire transfer.
Waiting to hear back from you..
Thank You.
Billy.."
I e-mailed my mate and some friends and he has just come back to say, yes, his account has been compromised (a Yahoo one). It could deceive though.....
I had a similar one last year DT, from a mate of mine who was in Nairobi which I thought was pretty strange seeing as I had been talking to him the night before in the pub !