SINCLAIRVILLE - If you received an e-mail from Beth Hadley, the library manager at the Sinclairville Free Library, asking for $2,500, she would like you to know it is not real.
Apparently, Ms. Hadley's e-mail account was hacked and the person who got inside changed the password and is soliciting money from the people on her contact list.
"I'm not sure how it happened, but I'm working on trying to get it taken care of with Microsoft," she said. "The problem is the account was set up by a previous administrator, and because of that, I don't know the answers to the questions to be able to change the password from outside the account."
In the e-mail, which many people received early Wednesday morning, including the OBSERVER and The Post-Journal, the scammer poses as Ms. Hadley, telling everyone that she is in London, England for a seminar and lost her wallet in a taxi cab.
"I have limited access to internet for now and I am not here with my cell phone," the e-mail said. "I will like you to assist me urgently with a loan of $2,500 to sort-out my hotel bills and to get myself back home. I have spoken to the embassy here but they are not responding to the matter effectively, I promise I will pay you back as soon as I return. Kindly let me know if you can be of help so that I can send you the details you will use to send the money to me here in London."
When the newspaper continued the conversation with the scammer, a reply e-mail was received stating appreciation and excitement that the money would be coming.
"Thanks so much for your response and concern," the letter said. "I will like you to send me the western union details after you have got the money sent. I will be waiting to read from you. Hope to see you again soon."
When a third e-mail was sent to the scammer saying the money was sent via Western Union to London, Ontario, along with well wishes for the trip, no additional reply was received.
Ms. Hadley spoke to the newspaper on Wednesday and assured that she is indeed stateside and was not in London begging her friends for cash.
"I turned down a trip to Bermuda recently, so there's no way I'd all of the sudden be in London," she said. "I'm very sorry this is happening and I hope it gets sorted out soon and no one sends any money to anyone pretending to be me."
Ms. Hadley can be reached at the Sinclairville Free Library if necessary and anyone who was actually fooled by the message, and sent money because of it, is asked to call the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Department at 753-2131 to report the incident.