Now that Facebook’s becoming more and more popular, I find myself often leaving the window open.   It’s a great way to reconnect with old friends, or keep up to date on what others are doing.

Earlier today, I got a message from the boyfriend of a friend of my wife’s.   Confusing, I know, but follow me.

He and I have talked on occasion when the girls get together, and generally get along fine.   We’re not, however, close enough that I’d ever ask him to borrow money, and vise versa.

I was surprised when he Facebook IM’d me, and asked to borrow $600. After chatting a bit, it was evident that I was talking to someone in a third world country.   Using phrases like:

well i just want to tell you that i needed some money to transfer to one off my good friend

and

ok like how much can you raised for me

It was pretty evident that this wasn’t the guy I knew, seeing as how he’s pretty well spoken.   So I asked “him”, if I could meet him at his office to drop the money off. (He lives and works in New York. I live in Boston.   Pretty unlikely I’d drive down there to lend him the money.)   Mr. Spammer didn’t know that, and immediately signed off.

I sent a message to his girlfriend (my wife’s friend) to let her know that he’d gotten hacked.

So be wary.   An odd Facebook message should be treated the same way as an odd e-mail.   Just because it comes from a friend of yours’ account, doesn’t mean it’s your friend.