I just received the latest email scam this morning, from someone I know. My friend, I'll call her "Jane Smith" (not her real name), had someone hack into her Hotmail email account and send out this message on her behalf. It states she apologizes for not telling anyone about her sudden trip out of town, but she's in the United Kingdom and has been robbed of everything she has, and to please send her nearly $2000 by wire. Most savvy users will recognize this is a scam, but it may be successful because 1) it's very emotional and passionate, pulling on the heartstrings, 2) it's apparently sent from my friend's email account, and 3) it asks the wire to be sent to "Jane Smith" at a specific address in the UK, theoretically tying the recipient to the sender.

This is just another reminder to always verify every request for money, even when it appears to be requested by someone you know.