The Bellingham Herald, Wash., Dean Kahn Column: What Scams Have Ended Up in Your E-Mail Inbox?

By Kristina Courtnage, The Bellingham Herald, Wash.

Jul. 30–In an electronic age where geography is not an obstacle, Internet scammers are prolific.

There are phishing schemes in which an e-mail tries to lure unsuspecting readers to reveal personal information about a bank account or other sensitive information. There are scams where the reader is promised large amounts of money for performing a favor for someone in another country.

And recently, a Bellingham man received an e-mail threatening his life unless he would pay $12,000.

What scams have ended up in your e-mail inbox? When did you realize it was a scam and how did you react?

Editor’s note: Dean Kahn is on vacation. Kristina Courtnage, a copy editor at The Bellingham Herald, is hosting Dean’s conversation while he is away. E-mail Kristina at kristina.courtnage@bellinghamherald.com.

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