Yarrr…!
So this happened today:
Hi
Checking in to see if we can catch up briefly over email. I want to ask you for a little assistance..
Helen x
Hi Helen,
This message sounds just like what you get with an address book virus! But it’s your legit email, so I guess it’s really you.
I’m at your disposal,
S.
Sorry to bother you as I’m in the hospital, do you order on Amazon?
Helen x
Oh, gosh – what’s wrong? And yes, I do. This sounds even more like an address book virus!
S.
Actually, I need help purchasing an Apple e-gift card for a friend’s daughter battling cancer. Today’s her birthday, and I’m trying to make her smile, but I’ve had trouble buying it online as I’m currently being treated for laryngitis in the hospital. Please could you help me buy it on Amazon? I’ll make sure to reimburse you today. Your help would mean a lot to her.
Let me know if you can assist, and I’ll share her email address, amount, and message to include in the gift
Helen x
Spoiler: it was an address book virus. Turns out, she knows about it already, too – one old dear already got scammed for £250. Don’t tell me Amazon can’t figure a way to stop this kind of thing. (Erm, I’m assuming everyone knows gift cards are the preferred currency of online scammers).
I asked MidJourney for Amazon gift card pirates. Not very good. Not crosseyed dude on right. I was rather taken with the grumpy cat in the middle, though.
Posted: February 9th, 2026 under personal.
Comments: 4
Comments
Comment from ExpressoBold Pureblood
Time: February 9, 2026, 7:44 pm
Address book virus.
Is nothing sacred any longer ???!!!!
I suppose this means that a virus app can export the entire address book to its malevolent servers to scam other unwitting, trusting, naive people.
I blame Bill “Mister Softie I Apologize!” Gates.
Comment from Some Vegetable
Time: February 9, 2026, 9:04 pm
I had one of these a few months ago – apparently my friend was traveling in Spain and her purse with her wallet, phone, and passport had been stolen. The hotel wouldn’t pay for international phone calls but would allow emails and she could only remember mine!
Could I send her $1000 so she could pay her hotel bill and fly home? Sure! All she had to do was tell me her brother’s name and the color of his car (She doesn’t have a brother). To give her credit for trying, she told me to stop playing silly buggers and send her the money before they threw her out on the street! I told her that I would let her brother know she needed some money.
Comment from Uncle AL
Time: February 9, 2026, 9:52 pm
These contact list hackers have been ripping people off for quite some time. I think it must have been at least three or maybe four years ago I got a money-begging email from a church friend victim. She was aghast.
New subject. Is that a small monkey sitting on the cat/human chimera’s head? And why are there baguettes in the dish drainer?
Comment from Durnedyankee
Time: February 9, 2026, 11:26 pm
So, you’re trying to tell me that mail I received from a Somali Prince who wanted my help getting the $30 million in a Somali bank account ( they have banks?) held by Mr Tim Walz who was killed in an unfortunate plane crash delivering aid to Somali blind orphans is fake?
He told me that money was going to be used for eye transplants and adoptions but Mr Tim Walz was unable to deliver it dear, owing to his unfortunate plane crash.
I was just getting ready to go to Kroger and buy the 42 $100 gift cards he needed to complete the transaction too!
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