Hijacking of my Email account - Email not Real

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Sean Avent

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Mar 25, 2011, 1:36:14 PM3/25/11
to Adam Lau, Aleta Jamora, Alex Avent, Alex Herman, Alison Sanders, Althea Kippes, Anabel Briseno, Anabel Briseno, Anatoly Yakovenko, Andrea Kuhn, Andrea L. Shephard Ph. D., Angela Baruffi, Angelo Cosentino, Anita, Anne Slaughter, Bay Area Diving List, Ben Erickson, Ben Steigerwald, Benjamin Erickson, Benjamin Holtzman, Benjamin Holtzman, Bert Dolan, Beth Anderson, Bill Janssen, Bill Janssen, Blair Armstrong, Blair Armstrong, Brian Tucker, Brian Tucker, Brigit Grimm, Brigit Grimm, Brittany Applewhite, Bryna Nielsen, Carmen Chu, Carol Rose, Carol Rose, Caroline Hagele, Caroline Harris, Carolyn Erdman, Carrie Primavera, Carrie Primavera, Charles B Matthews, Charlie Nielsen, Charlie Nielsen, children_...@gmail.com, Chingkee dela Pena, Chris Fitzer, Chris Tommaso, Chris Tommaso, Chris Wang, Christa Speekmann, Christina Flores, Christina Fong, Christine Elder, Christopher McDowell, Christopher McDowell, Christopher McDowell, Clark Hale, Clubpuck, Coach Duck, Connie Landry, Connie Landry, Craig V. W. Lewis, Craig V. W. Lewis, Cyndi Dawson, Dan McKinley, Dana Riggs, Daniel Lowrey, Darren Dodge, Darren Gewant, Darren Gewant, Darryl Brambilla, Darryl Brambilla, Dave Cook, Dave Little, Dave Wiles, David Andrews, David Avent, David Green, David Kennedy, David Nelson, David Quiec, David Simon, David Sun, David Sun, David Sun, Dawn Charnetzky, Dean Dibble, Dean Dibble, Denise Greig, Denise Greig, Denise L.J. Watson, Denise Reed, Dimitri Desmidt, Dorothy S Gray, Doug Roth, Doug Roth, Dustin Gurkowski, Ed Sutton, Elaine Willougheby, Elaine Willougheby, Elisa Rossi, Eric Roberts, Erich Kaiser, Evan Mead, Francesca Hill, Francesca Koe, Francesca Koe, Francois Dussault, Gabriel Mikulich, Gary Christianson, Gavin Chafin, Gavin Newsom, George Wolfe, Gladys Rivero, Gracie Cribbs, Greg Fitzgerald, Greg Mau, Greg Mau, Greg McGrath, Greg Mullersman, Greg Mullersman, Greg Ruiz, Gregory Appling, Gregory Appling, Gretchen LeBuhn, Gretchen Yeoman, Gurkan Peksoz, Gustavo Pesce, Gustavo Pesce, Gustavo Pesce, Gustavo Pesce, Gustavo Pesce, Gwendolyn Tornatore, Harlene A. Weller, Harry L Hsiung, Harry L Hsiung, Harry L Hsiung, hawth...@locustec.com, Helen Chadd, Hilde Spautz, Hildegard Spautz, Hockey Player, Hockeynet - Underwater Hockey International List, Holland Ja, Jack Whiteford, Jack Whiteford, Jake Schweitzer, Jakub Kalousek, Jakub Kalousek, James E Cloern, James Luce, James Luce, James Luce, James Luce, Jane Williamson, Jason Castleberry, Jason Phillips, Jason Phillips, Jason Toft, Jason Yakich, Jason Znavnut, Jason Znavnut, Jeff Young, Jeff Cordell, Jeff Cordell, Jeff Dorman, Jeff Fikes, Jen Gall, Jennie Leigh Semon, Jennie Leigh Semon, Jennifer Smith, Jenning Gee, Jerard Jardin, Jeremy Craft, Jess Morgan, Jim Melrod, Jim Melrod, Jimm Crosby, Jimmy Kulpa, Joan Avent, Joan Avent, Jody Zaitlin, Joe Gomes, Joel Carlson, Joel Carlson, John Durand, John Hudson, John Kulsa, John Kulsa, John Lawton, John Memminger, John Morgan, John Watson, Jonathan Chu, Jordan Robertson, José H. Espinosa, Joseph Grandov, Josh Harwayne, Josh Nichols, Julie Tucker, Justin Semion, Karen Alvey, Karen Erickson, Karen McDowell, Karen McDowell, Karen S Shimon, Kate Sheppard, Kathy Boyer, Katie Frank, Kei Gowda, Keith Morgan, Kendall Banks, Kenneth Kelsen, Keri Tucker, Keri Tucker, Kim Long, Kimberly Skukas, Ladd Lougee, Ladd Lougee, Laura Dancer, Laura Hamilton, Leah R Tracy, Lee Mecum, Lenny Grimaldo, Lenny Grimaldo, Leslie Lazarotti, Leslie Mace, Lisa Conroy, Lisa Conroy, Lorianne Daluz, Lorraine Parsons, Lorraine Parsons, Lorraine Parsons, Lyndon Rive, Lyndon Rive, Madeleine Rive, Maggi Kelly, Maki Inada, Manny Koch, Manny Rodriguez, Maria De Caussin, Maria-Jose Bravo, Marie Ocana, Marin Dive Center, Mark A. Sutton, Mark and Wanda Voelker, Mark and Wanda Voelker, Mark Foy, Mark Lavan, Mark Zvilius, Mark Zvilius, Mark Zvilius, Mark Zvilius, Mark Zvilius, Martin Reed, Martin Vandenbenghe, Mary Jo Ferris, Mary Jo Ferris, Mary Jo Ferris, Mary Jo Ferris, Mary Latta, Matt Blair, Matt Blair, Matt Kelley, Matt Nobriga, Matthew Dakin, Maureen McEvoy, Mauro Small, Maurya Falkner, Max Märkel, Megan Wehrenberg, Melissa Azarraga, Melissa McKinley, Melora Elizabeth Haas, MenWithSticks, MenWithSticks, Michael Dewinter, Michael Forte, Michael Hathhorn, Michael Tornatore, Michele Helm, Michelle Orr, Michelle Shouse, Michelle Shouse, Mike Collins Wolfe, Mike Collins Wolfe, Mike Grimm, Mike Grimm, Mike Ireland, Mike Ireland, Mike Leeper, Mike McGowan, Miles Ho, Miriam Shipp, Missy Kehoe, Molly Long-Dodge, MollySue Drodza, Mountain Man Touring, Mystique Doyle, Nadav Nur, Natalie Lawyer, Nate Norberg, Nathan Rust, Netflix Shipping, Nicholas Sutton, Nick Welschmeyer, Nicolas Paris, Nicolas Paris, Oddvar Larsen, Pace Lash, Paola Bouley, Pat Carboneau, Pat Harris, Patricia ONeill, Patrick Partington, Patrick Partington, Patrick Partington, Patrick Partington, Patrick Partington, Patty Fata, Patty Guldenpfennig, Patty Redig, Paul Gundelfinger, Paul Wittekind, Paul Wittekind, Phil Greer, Phil Hickey, Phil Williams, Philip Hickey, Raj Maniar, Ralph Larson, Randy Brown, Renata Victoria Foucre, Renata Victoria Foucre, Renata Victoria Foucre, Renata Victoria Foucre, Renaud Waldura, Renaud Waldura, Renaud Waldura, Renaud Waldura, Rex Gabonada, Ricardo De La Fuente, Ricardo De La Fuente, Rich Gray, Rich Gray, Rich White, Richard Dugdale, Rick and Kathy Pugh, Robert Fleischer, Robert Schroeter, Robin Duquette, Robin Duquette, Robin Tinker, Roger Fuller, Roger Kemp, Roger Leventhal, Roxanne Rust, Rudolf Pretorious, Rudolf Pretorious, Russ Bellmer, Russel and Jane Bugden, Russel and Jane Bugden, Russell Gelfan, Russell R. Hopcroft, sac UWH, Sal Troia, Sam Messe, Sambhav Sankar, Samuel N. Luoma, San Francisco Underwater Hockey google group, San Francisco Underwater Hockey google group, Sarah Hewawitharana, Sarah Hewawitharana, Sarah Janssen, Sarah Janssen, Sarah Janssen, Sarah Janssen, Scott Semans, Scott Tucker, Scott Tucker, ScubaBoard, Seamus Mcconn, Sean R. Avent, Sean R. Avent, Sean R. Avent, Sean R. Avent, Sean R. Avent, Sebastián Viviani, sfuwh-announcements, Shawn Tucker, Shawn Tucker, Shefman Law Group, Shephard, Steven L, Simon Talbot, Stacy Kim, Stephan Wickaert, Stephan Wickaert, Stephanie Burns, Stephanie Concelman, Stephanie Jensen, Stephen Akridge, Stephen Crooks, Stephen Hack, Stephen M. Bollens, Stephen Pacetti, Stephen Rader, Steve Hill, Steve Obrebski, Steve Schran, Steve Shephard, Steve Shephard, Steven Kars, Steven Kars, Stripe Demarest, Stripe Demarest, Stuart Siegel, Sunshine Wu, Suntosh Murthy, Susan Stanley, Susan Yogi, Suzanne and Rusty Jewett, Suzanne Jewett, Tara Schraga, Terry Sutton, Terry Sutton, Terry Sutton, Terry Sutton, Timmy Burke, Timmy Burke, Tina Butler, Tom Brown, Tom Brown, Tom Brown, Tom Brown, Tom Brown, Tom E. Kucera Ph. D., Tom Redig, Tom Redig, Tom Redig, Tyera Eulberg, Underwater Hockey Phoenix, USA Open Masters 2010 Group, Usopenmasters, Val Cunningham, Vern Latta, Vic Joyner, Vick Germany, Vicky Gezon, Vicky Gezon, Wain Owings, Wendy Okafuji, Wendy Okafuji, Wendy Okafuji, Weston Monroe, Weston Monroe, in...@swampthing.org, William Litchfield, Wim Kimmerer, Winsor, Mark, Winsor, Mark, Wong Harry, Woody Lee, Woody Lee, Woody Lee, Yori Huynh, Yori Huynh, Zach Hymanson, Ziggy, Zoe Avent
Please excuse the interruption and emails, but I just wanted everyone to know that, I am not in Scotland and have not been robbed. Although the email I saw did not request any money directly, please do not send any money to anyone. Also, all my contacts for that account were deleted so that I could not reply to them, so please excuse the mass over-cautious response to all my contacts in my other email accounts.

I know I've been on vacation overseas before and I have been mugged, so this is not out of the realm of possibility for me. And I'm currently taking time off work, so even a little more plausible if you knew that. But had I really been in Scotland and wanted money from people, here's how the note would have proceeded [with editorial remarks]:

Dear friends, family, and anyone else who cares to take pity on me,

I'm freaking pissed off! [Note that I wouldn't regularly get teary-eyed in a situation such as this. Neither would I be devastated and would like to think I'd chalk this up to gaining more worldly experience]. I have been traveling abroad in Scotland and have had the uncanny misfortune of being mugged at knifepoint [we all know that there are no guns in Scotland].  All my worldly possessions are gone, including my underwater hockey gear [not that the other email does not mention UWH gear. Also, what dumb-ass thief does not steal the passports as well?].  Thus far in our trip, we have been able to hit up only half of the distilleries in the Country. Because all of my funds are gone, and my goal for this trip was to get schnockered at each and every one and play hockey in between, I ask that you immediately wire some money to me.  Please any spare funds you have to Sean Avent, c/o Lagavulin Distillery, Scotland. I will be hunkered down here for quite some time such that I can receive funds enough to pay my tab and let me move on to the next distillery. then I'll send out another email asking for more money. 

[Also note that I at least try to use punctuation and capitalization in the correct manner and do not consider a cell phone as being cash or a credit card.]

In the future, please look up any suspicious email/scam if possible. Here are similar stories:

-----Original Message-----
From: Sean R. Avent [mailto:sean...@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2011 8:04 AM
To: undisclosed recipients:
Subject: MY SAD TRIP !!!Sean R. Avent

I'm writing this with tears in my eyes it has left my fam and i in a
devastating state,This might get to you too urgent but it's because of the
situation of things right now,I'm stuck in Scotland United Kingdom with my
family right now,we came on a short vacation,we got mugged at Gun point,All
cash,credit cards including our cell phone were stolen from us,but luckily
for us we still have our passports with us.

We've been to the embassy and the Police here but they're not helping issues
at all and our flight leaves in few hours from now but having problems
settling the hotel bills and the hotel manager won't let us leave until we
settle the bills,I'm freaked out at the moment.

Thanks
Sean.

Tom Brown

unread,
Mar 25, 2011, 2:44:41 PM3/25/11
to Sean Avent, Adam Lau, Aleta Jamora, Alex Avent, Alex Herman, Alison Sanders, Althea Kippes, Anabel Briseno, Anabel Briseno, Anatoly Yakovenko, Andrea Kuhn, Andrea L. Shephard Ph. D., Angela Baruffi, Angelo Cosentino, Anita, Anne Slaughter, Bay Area Diving List, Ben Erickson, Ben Steigerwald, Benjamin Erickson, Benjamin Holtzman, Benjamin Holtzman, Bert Dolan, Beth Anderson, Bill Janssen, Bill Janssen, Blair Armstrong, Blair Armstrong, Brian Tucker, Brian Tucker, Brigit Grimm, Brigit Grimm, Brittany Applewhite, Bryna Nielsen, Carmen Chu, Carol Rose, Carol Rose, Caroline Hagele, Caroline Harris, Carolyn Erdman, Carrie Primavera, Carrie Primavera, Charles B Matthews, Charlie Nielsen, Charlie Nielsen, children_...@gmail.com, Chingkee dela Pena, Chris Fitzer, Chris Tommaso, Chris Tommaso, Chris Wang, Christa Speekmann, Christina Flores, Christina Fong, Christine Elder, Christopher McDowell, Christopher McDowell, Christopher McDowell, Clark Hale, Clubpuck, Coach Duck, Connie Landry, Connie Landry, Craig V. W. Lewis, Craig V. W. Lewis, Cyndi Dawson, Dan McKinley, Dana Riggs, Daniel Lowrey, Darren Dodge, Darren Gewant, Darren Gewant, Darryl Brambilla, Darryl Brambilla, Dave Cook, Dave Little, Dave Wiles, David Andrews, David Avent, David Green, David Kennedy, David Nelson, David Quiec, David Simon, David Sun, David Sun, David Sun, Dawn Charnetzky, Dean Dibble, Dean Dibble, Denise Greig, Denise Greig, Denise L.J. Watson, Denise Reed, Dimitri Desmidt, Dorothy S Gray, Doug Roth, Doug Roth, Dustin Gurkowski, Ed Sutton, Elaine Willougheby, Elaine Willougheby, Elisa Rossi, Eric Roberts, Erich Kaiser, Evan Mead, Francesca Hill, Francesca Koe, Francesca Koe, Francois Dussault, Gabriel Mikulich, Gary Christianson, Gavin Chafin, Gavin Newsom, George Wolfe, Gladys Rivero, Gracie Cribbs, Greg Fitzgerald, Greg Mau, Greg Mau, Greg McGrath, Greg Mullersman, Greg Mullersman, Greg Ruiz, Gregory Appling, Gregory Appling, Gretchen LeBuhn, Gretchen Yeoman, Gurkan Peksoz, Gustavo Pesce, Gustavo Pesce, Gustavo Pesce, Gustavo Pesce, Gustavo Pesce, Gwendolyn Tornatore, Harlene A. Weller, Harry L Hsiung, Harry L Hsiung, Harry L Hsiung, hawth...@locustec.com, Helen Chadd, Hilde Spautz, Hildegard Spautz, Hockey Player, Hockeynet - Underwater Hockey International List, Holland Ja, Jack Whiteford, Jack Whiteford, Jake Schweitzer, Jakub Kalousek, Jakub Kalousek, James E Cloern, James Luce, James Luce, James Luce, James Luce, Jane Williamson, Jason Castleberry, Jason Phillips, Jason Phillips, Jason Toft, Jason Yakich, Jason Znavnut, Jason Znavnut, Jeff Young, Jeff Cordell, Jeff Cordell, Jeff Dorman, Jeff Fikes, Jen Gall, Jennie Leigh Semon, Jennie Leigh Semon, Jennifer Smith, Jenning Gee, Jerard Jardin, Jeremy Craft, Jess Morgan, Jim Melrod, Jim Melrod, Jimm Crosby, Jimmy Kulpa, Joan Avent, Joan Avent, Jody Zaitlin, Joe Gomes, Joel Carlson, Joel Carlson, John Durand, John Hudson, John Kulsa, John Kulsa, John Lawton, John Memminger, John Morgan, John Watson, Jonathan Chu, Jordan Robertson, José H. Espinosa, Joseph Grandov, Josh Harwayne, Josh Nichols, Julie Tucker, Justin Semion, Karen Alvey, Karen Erickson, Karen McDowell, Karen McDowell, Karen S Shimon, Kate Sheppard, Kathy Boyer, Katie Frank, Kei Gowda, Keith Morgan, Kendall Banks, Kenneth Kelsen, Keri Tucker, Keri Tucker, Kim Long, Kimberly Skukas, Ladd Lougee, Ladd Lougee, Laura Dancer, Laura Hamilton, Leah R Tracy, Lee Mecum, Lenny Grimaldo, Lenny Grimaldo, Leslie Lazarotti, Leslie Mace, Lisa Conroy, Lisa Conroy, Lorianne Daluz, Lorraine Parsons, Lorraine Parsons, Lorraine Parsons, Lyndon Rive, Lyndon Rive, Madeleine Rive, Maggi Kelly, Maki Inada, Manny Koch, Manny Rodriguez, Maria De Caussin, Maria-Jose Bravo, Marie Ocana, Marin Dive Center, Mark A. Sutton, Mark and Wanda Voelker, Mark and Wanda Voelker, Mark Foy, Mark Lavan, Mark Zvilius, Mark Zvilius, Mark Zvilius, Mark Zvilius, Mark Zvilius, Martin Reed, Martin Vandenbenghe, Mary Jo Ferris, Mary Jo Ferris, Mary Jo Ferris, Mary Jo Ferris, Mary Latta, Matt Blair, Matt Blair, Matt Kelley, Matt Nobriga, Matthew Dakin, Maureen McEvoy, Mauro Small, Maurya Falkner, Max Märkel, Megan Wehrenberg, Melissa Azarraga, Melissa McKinley, Melora Elizabeth Haas, MenWithSticks, MenWithSticks, Michael Dewinter, Michael Forte, Michael Hathhorn, Michael Tornatore, Michele Helm, Michelle Orr, Michelle Shouse, Michelle Shouse, Mike Collins Wolfe, Mike Collins Wolfe, Mike Grimm, Mike Grimm, Mike Ireland, Mike Ireland, Mike Leeper, Mike McGowan, Miles Ho, Miriam Shipp, Missy Kehoe, Molly Long-Dodge, MollySue Drodza, Mountain Man Touring, Mystique Doyle, Nadav Nur, Natalie Lawyer, Nate Norberg, Nathan Rust, Netflix Shipping, Nicholas Sutton, Nick Welschmeyer, Nicolas Paris, Nicolas Paris, Oddvar Larsen, Pace Lash, Paola Bouley, Pat Carboneau, Pat Harris, Patricia ONeill, Patrick Partington, Patrick Partington, Patrick Partington, Patrick Partington, Patrick Partington, Patty Fata, Patty Guldenpfennig, Patty Redig, Paul Gundelfinger, Paul Wittekind, Paul Wittekind, Phil Greer, Phil Hickey, Phil Williams, Philip Hickey, Raj Maniar, Ralph Larson, Randy Brown, Renata Victoria Foucre, Renata Victoria Foucre, Renata Victoria Foucre, Renata Victoria Foucre, Renaud Waldura, Renaud Waldura, Renaud Waldura, Renaud Waldura, Rex Gabonada, Ricardo De La Fuente, Ricardo De La Fuente, Rich Gray, Rich Gray, Rich White, Richard Dugdale, Rick and Kathy Pugh, Robert Fleischer, Robert Schroeter, Robin Duquette, Robin Duquette, Robin Tinker, Roger Fuller, Roger Kemp, Roger Leventhal, Roxanne Rust, Rudolf Pretorious, Rudolf Pretorious, Russ Bellmer, Russel and Jane Bugden, Russel and Jane Bugden, Russell Gelfan, Russell R. Hopcroft, sac UWH, Sal Troia, Sam Messe, Sambhav Sankar, Samuel N. Luoma, San Francisco Underwater Hockey google group, San Francisco Underwater Hockey google group, Sarah Hewawitharana, Sarah Hewawitharana, Sarah Janssen, Sarah Janssen, Sarah Janssen, Sarah Janssen, Scott Semans, Scott Tucker, Scott Tucker, ScubaBoard, Seamus Mcconn, Sean R. Avent, Sean R. Avent, Sean R. Avent, Sean R. Avent, Sebastián Viviani, sfuwh-announcements, Shawn Tucker, Shawn Tucker, Shefman Law Group, Shephard, Steven L, Simon Talbot, Stacy Kim, Stephan Wickaert, Stephan Wickaert, Stephanie Burns, Stephanie Concelman, Stephanie Jensen, Stephen Akridge, Stephen Crooks, Stephen Hack, Stephen M. Bollens, Stephen Pacetti, Stephen Rader, Steve Hill, Steve Obrebski, Steve Schran, Steve Shephard, Steve Shephard, Steven Kars, Steven Kars, Stripe Demarest, Stripe Demarest, Stuart Siegel, Sunshine Wu, Suntosh Murthy, Susan Stanley, Susan Yogi, Suzanne and Rusty Jewett, Suzanne Jewett, Tara Schraga, Terry Sutton, Terry Sutton, Terry Sutton, Terry Sutton, Timmy Burke, Timmy Burke, Tina Butler, Tom Brown, Tom E. Kucera Ph. D., Tom Redig, Tom Redig, Tom Redig, Tyera Eulberg, Underwater Hockey Phoenix, USA Open Masters 2010 Group, Usopenmasters, Val Cunningham, Vern Latta, Vic Joyner, Vick Germany, Vicky Gezon, Vicky Gezon, Wain Owings, Wendy Okafuji, Wendy Okafuji, Wendy Okafuji, Weston Monroe, Weston Monroe, in...@swampthing.org, William Litchfield, Wim Kimmerer, Winsor, Mark, Winsor, Mark, Wong Harry, Woody Lee, Woody Lee, Woody Lee, Yori Huynh, Yori Huynh, Zach Hymanson, Ziggy, Zoe Avent
Here is some blatant advertising from the Googleplex in the form of security tips. Two very common ways to get hacked are typing your password on an untrusted (usually Windows) computer and sharing weak passwords between sites. Here are some things you can do to reduce your risk:

You can enable two factor authentication for your google account. When someone tries to login to your account from a new computer they will need your password AND your phone or a list of one-time-use numbers.
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/advanced-sign-in-security-for-your.html

Yahoo!, Google, Facebook etc are starting to support cross site login so you don't need to remember a different password for each. This generally doesn't change your security risk because once someone can read your email they can reset the password for other sites.
http://developer.yahoo.com/blogs/ydn/posts/2011/01/third-party-auth/
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/simpler-sign-ups-for-yahoo-users-with.html

Gmail identified the scammer's text and put a warning at the top of the message :-)

If someone does take over your Google/Yahoo/FB/etc account you should be able to regain control using the respective support systems. But if you try in earnest and they fail for 3-5 days let me know and I'll try to help using internal connections.
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