En la Internet abundan las estafas; y desde hace varios años circulan, en el correo electrónico, cartas de viudas de exfuncionarios africanos, en las que las que ofrecen dinero a cambio de una ayudita para sacar de aquel continente algunos millones que dejaron sus difuntos maridos luego de ejercer sus funciones públicas.
Todo eso es una forma de timo, claro, en la que no han faltado los incautos que caigan creyendo ganarse algún dinero fácil. Pero el truco ya es viejo y supongo que con el tiempo va perdiendo efectividad. Quizás por eso es que ha surgido una nueva modalidad. La semana pasada recibí, supuestamente de dos amigos, la siguiente nota:
Hope you get this on time,sorry I didn’t inform you about my trip in UK for a Program, I’m presently in UK and am having some difficulties here because i lost my wallet to some robbers on my way to the hotel where my money and other valuable things were kept. presently i have limited access to internet,I will like you to assist me with a loan of 1650 dollars to sort-out my hotel bill,feeding and transportation. I have spoken to the embassy here but they are not responding to the issue effectively,I will appreciate whatever you can afford to assist me,I’ll Refund the money back to you as soon as i return,let me know if you can be of any help.I don’t have a phone where i can be reached.Please let me know immediately.
Love, XXXX y YYYY.
A una de las cartas respondí para ver que pasaba, y recibí la siguiente respuesta:
Thank you for your mail.I can’t call you right now because my phone was stoIen by the robbers and I don’t have a penny for a pay phone. I need you to help me with the money I requested for and I promise to return the money back to you as soon as I return. I don’t have an account here so you can’t send the money via bank transfer.Sosend the money through western union money transfer. Its a very reliable means to get the money to me but for you’ll have to pay some charges to transfer. Here are my information you can use in sending the money to me Name: XXXX Receivers Address/location: 19 New Dover Road,CanterburyDover kent,CT1 3AH,United Kingdom. As soon as you send the money please scan the receipt of the transfer or email me the transfer details so as to be able to pick up the money Asap! Hope to read from you pretty soon. Thank you, XXXX.
Les cuento, para que no caigan, ni en esta, ni en las cartas en las que Bill Gates ofrece regalar millones, ni en cosas parecidas. Nunca de información, ni mande dinero si no está bien seguro de lo que está haciendo y a quién.
