Wow, here's a new one, I think.

I got an e-mail from a "Mary Mueller." Now, I vaguely know someone by that name, but anyway, it's a vague acquaintance at best. I can't imagine the person I know e-mailing me begging money. But the e-mail is pretty brazen:

Hello,
How are you doing ? I hope you are doing fine, I'm sorry that I didn't inform
you about my traveling to England for a Seminar.
I need a favor from you as soon as you receive this e-mail because I misplaced my
wallet on my way to the hotel where my money,and other valuable things were kept, I
will like you to assist me with a soft loan urgently. I will be needing the sum of
$2,500 to sort-out my hotel bills and get myself back home.
I will appreciate whatever you can afford to help me with, I will pay you back as
soon as I return,I'm counting on you on this,Kindly let me know if you can be of
help so I can send you my details to use when sending the money through western
union.I look forward to read from you later today.
Your reply will be greatly appreciated.

My sources say: SCAM.

I'd be tempted to email the person back with a curt, "Have you tried Traveller's Aid?" except I know that would then register my e-mail as a "live" one.

The e-mail I received said, "I need your help." in the subject line. The Mary Mueller I know is involved with one of the churches in my region...so I thought maybe it was going to be a request for something like, "Save your empty paper towel rolls for VBS crafts" or something. But no, it's a poorly-worded plea for money.

The thing is: it's just on the veriest verge of plausibility...I had to think quickly before deciding it was a scam. (oh, and the header information looks suspicious.) It's e-mailed from a Hotmail account, no idea if they crack down on scams at all, so it hardly seems worth forwarding.

Oh, and the Mary Mueller I know speaks less stilted English than that - "Soft loan"?

But I can totally see someone less cynical/less knowing than I falling for it - especially if they knew someone well by that name.