8:46am Thursday 11th March 2010
By Mike Laycock
FRIENDS of York man Geoff Nicholls were startled to receive an email from him, saying he had been mugged at gunpoint during a trip to Wales and needed money.
The email said he had hurt his right hand and all his cash, credit cards and phone were stolen, and he was now having trouble sorting out his hotel bills.
It went on to say: “Wondering if you could loan me some Pounds to sort out the hotel bills and also take a cab to the airport, about (1,000).
“I have been to the police here, but they aren’t helping issues, I have limited means of getting out of here.
“I cancelled my cards already and made a police report.
“I don’t get a new card number till I get back home! So I really need your help.”
The email urged people to wire whatever they could spare via Western Union to him at Premier Inn Wrexham.
But Geoff today reassured everyone he had not been mugged, saying he was fit and well and had fallen victim to an email scam.
He said someone appeared to have gained access to his contacts list, and sent out the email to everyone in the hope that someone would fall for it and send some money.
Mr Nicholls, of Badger Hill, a retired press officer and marketing manager for former York train company GNER, said he first discovered he had been scammed when he got home last Thursday and a friend rang him up.
He said he had emailed everyone to reassure them, but the next day found his email account password had been changed and he couldn’t get into it.
He said no one had been taken in by the scam but was concerned that if others were being targeted in the same way, someone would be fooled and might send money to the scammers.
“I don’t want anyone to be taken in by this scam,” he said.
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