Hawaii Randy's Real Estate Opinions: Your Facebook® Account Can be a Weapon in the Wrong Hands

Last evening I was contacted by someone pretending to be a well known blogger on Active Rain.  Apparently this person hacked into this real estate agent's Facebook® account and was sending instant messages from it.

In this case the culprit claimed to be my friend and was in London on vacation.  He said he was held up at gun point and hit in the head and needed cash wired via Western Union.  It took me a few minutes to realize this was probably a scam.  My first hint was the hard sell for me to move fast.  A big red flag in anything you do in life.  To test this person I kept finding other alternative solutions to sending the cash.  They had an excuse for each one, leaving only sending cash via Western Union immediately as a possible solution.  They also messaged me a new e-mail address to contact them with the instructions.  The e-mail address was somewhat convincing since they used his name in the address.

I called first thing this morning and reached my friend's wife to verify that he was not in London and to let him know his Facebook® account was hacked.

I just e-mailed back the scammer asking for the name of the hotel they were staying in and the phone number so I could call them.  If they respond, I will post the results here.

 Since getting on Facebook® and Twitter®, I have had my accounts hacked with a virus inserted.  It seems to be an easy thing for the bad guys to do.  The most common from it takes is the message with a bunch of misspelled works either telling you they have a video of you or you are a Dumb  A_ _  (misspelled).  If you click on the link they now have access to your account and it will start sending out those messages to everyone in your contact list.  It will also drop a virus on your computer.  In last night's case they seemed to have gotten access to his account and were operating from it.  My broker had the virus get into her Facebook® account and sent the Dumb A__ message to several local politicians.  In that case I did get a great laugh.  I am sure it wasn't the first time someone called them that.

If this happens to you, the first thing you should do is enter your account and change the password immediately.  Then get on your computer and scan for viruses.  The first time it happened, my anti-virus software let it right in.  I was using probably the number #1 selling anti-virus product at the time.  I have since changed to Kaspersky® and have found it to be a superior product.  Nothing has gotten through since.

If you are going to open yourself to the world via social networking, you also open yourself to some bad folks.  If they get into your account, they will be doing bad things to your friends, family and clients with your name on it.  You please remember to practice safe networking.

Update:

I have had several messages back and forth with the scammer.  They are probably realizing that I was scamming them back.  After I insisted they send me the hotel's name, address and phone number they finall came up with an address that is posted on the internet as part of a known scam.

http://csrollyson.tumblr.com/     http://www.kenn.com/the_blog/?p=2518

They insisted I send cash via Western Union.  I told them I sent it via a special secured transaction that requires they go to a specific location and present their passport and reference my name.  The location I selected was a couple hours dirve away.  That is if they are really in London.  They kept insisting I send them the tracking number, which I said does not exist for this secured transmittal.

Here was our last few messages: 

Scammer:

• Name : +++++++
• Address : 224 Upper Richmond Road
• London, SW15 6TD
• United Kingdom
•  
• Sunderland hotel
• Hotel Number  +447024097949

Get back to me as soon as you have the money wired.can you have the money right away? how soon can this take you ?

Hope to read from you as soon as you have this done.

Thanks

Me:  I am having a hard time finding this hotel.  I have searched the internet with no luck.  Do you have the name and address of the hotel correct?

I have to go to bed it is really late here.  Hopefully we can resolve it in the morning before I leave for board meetings.  I can't do anything until Western Union opens.

Me:  The money was sent Western Union ($800.00 American).  I had trouble locating your hotel on the internet, I hope I found the closest Western Union location to you.

•             Western Union
•             SOMAGA AFICAN RESTAURANT
•             88-90 Bristol Street
•             Birmingham, B5 7AH

Because of your stolen IDs and credit cards, I used a secure transfer.  It cannot be tracked in the Western Union system to protect you from the folks who stole your IDs and credit cards.  The money can only be picked up at the location we wired it to.  Just show your passport and reference my name.  The money transfer will only be available for 8 hours and then it is automatically reversed back to Hawaii.  I hope you get this message right away.  What a mess criminals have made of our world.  I had a tough time making this happen.  Western Union was not very cooperative. It took me a couple of attempts to get it sent.  They claim it is due to new Homeland Security guidelines. 

Scammer:  Can i have the MTCN number.hope to read from you soon? Western Union told me to provide the MTCN number.Ok?    Thanks.

Me: You just caught me, I am running out the door for the rest of the day.

This one is a special transfer, you do not need a number.  You just go to the specified location in person and show your passport and use my name.  It should already be there.  Because it is secured, Western Union can't give out information on the internet or on the phone for this transfer. 

Scammer:  You are a lier.whats is the meaning of this ?try and understand me i need this to have the money pick up that is if you have wire it ok?

Me:  I send you $800 and you insult me?  Are you kidding me?  Did you go to the Western Union office I sent it to?

Scammer:  Go back there and ask them for the western union MTCN number   Ok?

Me: According to Western Union, you never showed up at the location with your passport.  Do you have an explanation?  If you are so desperate, why did you not show up?    Are you playing me?

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After that message early this morning it has gotten quiet.