Sos from kyle gibson

[robberbaron4u]

I have received an email, purportedly from the escort "Kyle Gibson", that, having lost his billfold and cell phone, he is marooned in Manila; his hotel his holding his passport against payment of his bill. He is asking for a loan of $3000 "to get his sorry ass back home". I am suspicious as the return email address is not the that which he has used in the past for our correspondence; telephoning to his residence at LA has been a futile effort on my part. Has anyone else received such a message from him in the past few days?

[Jscott]

That's one of the oldest cons in the book. Whether you know the guy or not (and whether it's really him).... pass.

 

A) First thing you do, even an escort, is go to the police and file a report (in the case of theft).

B) Then you go to the U.S. Embassy, which often can help you get back home (assuming you haven't done anything illegal yourself).

C) Hotels rarely have access to your passport these days. You show it when you check in, then get it back (only if it's in the hotel safe could they conceivably hold it for "ransom"), and a reputable hotel generally would not do that.

[bigvalboy]

That's one of the oldest cons in the book. Whether you know the guy or not (and whether it's really him).... pass.

 

A) First thing you do, even an escort, is go to the police and file a report (in the case of theft).

B) Then you go to the U.S. Embassy, which often can help you get back home (assuming you haven't done anything illegal yourself).

C) Hotels rarely have access to your passport these days. You show it when you check in, then get it back (only if it's in the hotel safe could they conceivably hold it for "ransom"), and a reputable hotel generally would not do that.

 

Correct on all counts......However in the case of Manila, may I suggest the U.S. Embassy first, and let them call the police.

[Jscott]

Correct on all counts......However in the case of Manila, may I suggest the U.S. Embassy first, and let them call the police.

 

Very true. In fact, probably best to start with the embassy in any emerging nation.

[Blade9]

Received the very same email. Delete.

[leigh.bess.toad]

I received an identical email from a forum friend (a client) a couple of months ago. Gee, what's going on in Manila? lol.

 

Delete it.

[rvwnsd]

That's one of the oldest cons in the book. Whether you know the guy or not (and whether it's really him).... pass.

 

A) First thing you do, even an escort, is go to the police and file a report (in the case of theft).

B) Then you go to the U.S. Embassy, which often can help you get back home (assuming you haven't done anything illegal yourself).

C) Hotels rarely have access to your passport these days. You show it when you check in, then get it back (only if it's in the hotel safe could they conceivably hold it for "ransom"), and a reputable hotel generally would not do that.

 

D) The hotel would simply charge the card used when he checked in.

[dfw2sfo]

It's a common scam that people hijack someone's email and send to their contacts. See about half way down this list:

 

http://www.atg.wa.gov/wirescams.aspx#.Udpcj2t5mSM

[+ bigjoey]

I get this type message about once a year from some friend.