Ted Erikson, You Can Call On Him

Courtesy of a hacker.

Ted Erikson completed several monumental open water swims in his career including a 30 hour 3 minute two-way crossing of the English Channel.

It was his third attempt to set an English Channel double-crossing record. His record stood for 10 years until, remarkably, it was broken by his son, Jon Erikson.

Erikson remains with us at the advanced age of 92 and still communicates with people, including those in the marathon and channel swimming world, from his home base in Illinois.

But some people try to take advantage of others including Erikson who has been selflessly helping students and swimmers all his life.

This was an email received from his correct email address (sdog1@sbcglobal.net) with his ubiquitous salutation: Old swimmers never die. But it was soon followed up by a hacker who shifted to a false alias email (Sdog.1@outlook.com) and then started to ask for money. Follow the email thread below:

—–Original Message—–
From: “Ted Erikson” sdog1@sbcglobal.net
Sent: Monday, April 6, 2020 12:42pm
Subject: QUICK FAVOR !

Hi there,

Please i need a quick favor from you, I’d appreciate if you could email me back asap.

Thanks
Old swimmers never die
They just wade away!
www.SdogV.com

—–Original Message—–
Sent: Tuesday, April 7, 2020 1:36 AM
To: Sdog.1@outlook.com
Subject: RE: QUICK FAVOR !

Yes. Everything OK?

—–Original Message—–
From: “Ted Erikson” Sdog.1@outlook.com
Sent: Monday, April 6, 2020 8:55pm
Subject: QUICK FAVOR !

I am sorry for bothering you with this urgent mail, I need to get an AMAZON Gift Card for my Niece, Its her birthday and i promise to send her gift cards as her birthday gift but i can’t do this now because I’m currently traveling and i tried purchasing online but unfortunately no luck with that.Can you help me purchase it from any nearby store around you. I promise to refund you back first thing as soon as i arrive back home safely…Kindly let me know if you can handle this Await your swift response.

Thanks,
Old swimmers never die
They just wade away!
www.SdogV.comv

—–Original Message—–
Sent: Tuesday, April 7, 2020 2:03 PM
To: Ted Erikson
Subject: RE: QUICK FAVOR !

Ted,

It has been too long since we last spoke. But I am glad your health remains strong. Of course, I can help you out. That is what friends are for. Can I send your niece a little extra money, too? Maybe another extra $50? She is probably in college now and students can always use some cash. I know she means a lot to you. Just tell me what to do.

—–Original Message—–
From: “Ted Erikson” Sdog.1@outlook.com
Sent: Tuesday, April 7, 2020 11:40pm
Subject: QUICK FAVOR !

Just a quick message to check on you to know how soon you will be heading to the store to help me purchase the cards. Looking forward to read from you

—–Original Message—–
Sent: Wednesday, April 8, 2020 4:53 AM
To: Ted Erikson
Subject: RE: QUICK FAVOR !

Is tomorrow morning OK with you? Amazon gift card, right? Not Starbucks or anything? $150 is OK? Times are a bit tough, as you know.

—–Original Message—–
From: “Ted Erikson” Sdog.1@outlook.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 8, 2020 12:35am
Subject: QUICK FAVOR !

Thank you very much. Total amount needed to get is $400 and you will have to buy it in ($100 denomination) from any nearby store around you, just check Rogers’s, CVS, Grocery, Walgreens or Walmart store. They will surely have the Cards there okay and you also have to make sure that all the cards you purchased for me must be Activated first, after then you will have to help me scratch the back of the cards one according to the other so that it can reveal the pin,then take a snap shot of the back showing the pin and have the Images Attached and forward to me here.

Thanks,
Old swimmers never die
They just wade away!
www.SdogV.comv

—–Original Message—–
Sent: Wednesday, April 8, 2020 2:09 PM
To: Ted Erikson
Subject: RE: QUICK FAVOR !

Do I text the back of the card to you? Which card do you prefer? There is no Roger’s near me. I don’t know what store that is.

—–Original Message—–
From: “Ted Erikson” Sdog.1@outlook.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 8, 2020 9:16am
Subject: QUICK FAVOR !

I want you to try all check and nearby store around you and ask for an Amazon gift card, once you are done purchasing them kindly scratch the backs of all the cards showing the pin on it and then take a snap shot of the cards…You will have to send me the pictures here for confirmation okay

—–Original Message—–
Sent: Thursday, April 9, 2020 7:13:26 AM
To: Ted Erikson Sdog.1@outlook.com
Subject: RE: QUICK FAVOR !

So I email you the back of the gift card? To sdog.1@outlook.com? Is this niece your brother’s daughter? What is her name so I can write her a note?

—–Original Message—–
From: “Ted Erikson” Sdog.1@outlook.com
Sent: Thursday, April 9, 2020 9:25am
Subject: QUICK FAVOR !

Good morning, please i need to be sure how soon will you be sending the back pictures of the gift cards showing the back pin on it to me here. Hope to read back from you soon

—–Original Message—–
Sent: Thursday, April 9, 2020 5:49:37 PM
To: Ted Erikson Sdog.1@outlook.com
Subject: RE: QUICK FAVOR !

Yes, no problem. But I also want to write a card for your niece and send you a photo too. But I have never met her and don’t know her name.

—–Original Message—–
From: “Ted Erikson” Sdog.1@outlook.com
Sent: Thursday, April 9, 2020 12:54pm
Subject: QUICK FAVOR !

Her name is Bennett, how soon will you be sending the pictures of the cards to me here…Please i want to be fast about this okay

—–Footnotes—–
Note 1: if you receive a similar email, delete and ignore it.
Note 2: Ted Erikson’s official website is here (http://www.sdogv.com).