5 Scams to Avoid in the Summertime - cont.

Here's the scenario: Grandpa gets an email from his grandkid, who claims to have been mugged while on vacation and desperately needs money. The details seem right, so Grandpa wires the money -- to an imposter who has hacked the grandkid's email account and lifted facts about the kid's life from social media. People put so much information about themselves on social media, it's scary. Scammers use this information to make cons more realistic.
While older people are often targeted in these scams, anyone can fall victim. An anonymous person's email was hacked a few years ago, friends received a message saying she had lost her wallet and passport during a trip to the U.K. and needed money. The letter was so convincing even my own sister believed it.  Because (the scammer) had also stolen the contacts through Facebook, he knew some information about people who sent back questions like 'Tell me how you know me. Several friends wound up losing money.
Avoid it: Never announce your vacation plans on social media. Moreover, if you receive an email purportedly from a stranded friend, don't send money without first speaking directly to your chum.