Baltimore Police Department

to protect & serve

By Public Affairs
Wednesday, December 28, 2011; 1:03 pm

Baltimore, MD / December 27, 2011 - The Baltimore Police Department is currently investigating an increase in con-artists attempting to use Facebook as a medium to perpetrate acts of financial fraud. Recently, the Computer & Electronics Crime Unit of the Baltimore Police Department has noticed an increase in attempts to financially defraud individuals through online scams. 

What is most notable is that the efforts have now migrated to Facebook.  Facebook postings have included those similar to the following:

Hello,    
I'm writing this mail with tears rolling down my cheeks, My family and i are presently in London,England for a short vacation and we were mugged at gun point last night at the park of the hotel where we lodged all cash,credit cards and cell phone were stolen off us.I've been to the US embassy and the Police here but they're not helping issues at all, My flight leaves in hew hrs from now and am having problems settling the hotel bills.The hotel manager won't let me leave until i settle the hotel bills now i need your Assistance.
Let  US know what you can Do
Jen & Tim

The Baltimore Police Department would like to remind everyone of a few simple tips to aid in preventing victimization.  First, few appeals for monetary assistance are legitimate, particularly if you did not initiate the contact with the requesting party.  This holds true even if the email address or website appears familiar. Second, never provide personal information over the internet, to include; credit card numbers, social security numbers, etc., without confirming to whom you are actually sending the information.  Do such confirmation through your own internet search or via a phone book, never through the contact information (links or phone numbers) provided by the sender of a suspicious email or social media message. Lastly, remember to take messages with numerous grammatical and spelling errors or that create a sense of urgency as a indicator of potential fraud.