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"The Phillipean Vacationer" Internet Scam

I almost got scammed this week. Apparently, the Phillipean Vacationer is the new Nigerian Prince.  I was just contacted by a Todd Burrton who told a sad tale (see below).  I just wanted to share this in case he somehow obtains your email addresses. 

I was initially taken in by three things:
  • The scammer picked a REALLY nice guy.  The fact that he picked Todd was an emotional accelerant
  • The scammer managed to mask his real address with Todd's
  • I was reading it on my phone so I thought it was a text message, which resolved my concern about his questionable English. 

EMAIL THREAD:

Todd Burton ...@yahoo.com> wrote:
I'm writing this with tears in my eyes,My family and I came down here 
to Manila,Philippines for a short vacation and got mugged at the park 
of the Hotel where we lodged all our cash,cell phones,credit cards, 
was stolen But luckily for us we still have our lives and passports 
with us. 

We have been to the embassy and the nearby police here but they seems
not to be helping the issue at all and our return flight leaves in
later today but having problem settling our bills,we are freaked out
right now and thank God we where not injured because we complied
immediately and we where wondering if you could help us with a quick
loan,I promise I'll refund it once we get home. Please write me so i
can send you the  info for the wire of the money to save me from the
embarrassment of not being able to cover the bills 

Thank you and hope to hear from you! 

Todd 

From: Bryan Tanner
...@ldschurch.org>
To: "toddsburr...@yahoo.com" ...@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 2, 2012 12:48 PM
Subject: Re: SAD NEWS!!! (Help Us Out) Todd Burton 

Can I still help, Todd? Bryan Tanner 
Sent from my LG phone 

From: Todd Burton ...@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: Todd Burton ...@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 2 May 2012 13:22:29 -0700
To: Bryan Tanner
...@ldschurch.org>
Subject: Re: SAD NEWS!!! (Help Us Out) Todd Burton 

I'm wondering if you got my last email...Please reply me back and let
me know asap. 

Thanks 

Todd 

From: Bryan Tanner
...@ldschurch.org>
To: Todd Burton ...@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 2, 2012 1:56 PM
Subject: Re: SAD NEWS!!! (Help Us Out) Todd Burton 

So sorry.  I was called away.  Embarrassing to ask, but please verify
your identity by telling me who our new EQ is. 

From: Todd Burton ...@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: Todd Burton ...@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 2 May 2012 14:01:28 -0700
To: Bryan Tanner
...@ldschurch.org>
Subject: Re: SAD NEWS!!! (Help Us Out) Todd Burton 

I'm disappointed in you despite the fact that i told you that I'm
stuck out here all you can do is to ask me question...you and i know
that if i wasn't myself i wont ask you to send money to my name as we
both know i will need some kinda identification to pick the money at
western union....Thank God i still have my passport here to show as
proof to them, so you need to make sure you fill in my name correctly
as it is on my passport.I wouldn't been able to get the money you sent
without a valid ID. I understand your concern and i'll suggest you to
use our new EQ as the secret question when sending the money,I'll need
to provide the correct answer here before i can get it..please try and
understand my plight...i will refund your money if that's the issue. 
Keep me posted with the transfer details as soon as possible cause my
return flight leaves in few hours from now but having problem sort out
my hotel bills 

Thanks 

Todd 

From: Bryan Tanner
...@ldschurch.org>
To: Todd Burton ...@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 2, 2012 2:03 PM
Subject: Re: SAD NEWS!!! (Help Us Out) Todd Burton 

FAIL.  Your scam is admirable however.  I'm sure you'll bilk plenty of
unsuspecting victims.  (It's all a numbers game; I really need to
apply the same principle in my love life.)  So, just out of curiosity,
how many people have fallen for this?  Please say, "You'd be
surprised." 

From: Todd Burton ...@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: Todd Burton ...@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 2 May 2012 14:08:21 -0700
To: Bryan Tanner
...@ldschurch.org>
Subject: Re: SAD NEWS!!! (Help Us Out) Todd Burton 

you'd be surprised.

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