Here we go again, with another warning! Yesterday, I received an email that looked like it was from a Granger I know. “She” asked if I shopped at Amazon. It didn’t sound like her, but I replied that I do.
This morning I received a reply:
Glad! I’ve been trying to purchase a $150 Amazon E-Gift card by email, but it says they are having issues charging my card. I contacted my bank and they told me it would take a couple of days to get it sorted. I intend to buy it for my Friend of mine who is diagnosed with stage 4 mesothelioma cancer, It’s her birthday today. Can you purchase it from your end for me, I am just trying to put a smile on her face in this trying times. I’ll send you a check regarding the refund later. Here is her email (XXXXXX@comcast.net )and have it ordered From Me. Please and the message space, write Happy birthday Dear Kathie, Stay strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Eph. 6:10, Let me know once you order it and send me the confirmation once it’s done.
Both emails I received come from an email address that I identify as the Granger’s. The style of writing and the number of errors, particularly in the second email, aroused my suspicion. While I don’t know this Granger extremely well, from previous email correspondence, this is not at all like her. The other red flag is the urgency. If this were legitimate, I’d expect a phone call–not an email.
I will call the Granger at a more reasonable hour. In the interim, if you receive a similar email, you might consider doing the same. It’s likely that someone has hacked her email account. She did hold a state office in the past, and it’s likely that the person sending these emails has access to her contact list.
This is not my favorite part of being Communications Director. Unfortunately, the digital world is complex and filled with hazards. Don’t be discouraged. Just be careful.
I wish I had read this first because I just responded to that email, supposedly from MM.
Responding to the email won’t cause much harm–other than confirming that it reached you. Just don’t buy the requested card!
Just by way of a quick update… thanks to the magic of telephone, earlier this morning I confirmed that this was NOT a legitimate email. In addition to taking the necessary steps to recover her email, she admitted that while the information about her sister was false, her sister would probably appreciate some gift cards. It’s important to maintain a sense of humor in the face of these challenges.