Joseph Banoub, a $5, 000, 000 winner of the Super Seven Lottery in the 1990's, called me from Egypt in February 2009, saying he had his wallet stolen and begged me to to wire him $3, 000 US via Western Union, promising to repay the money in a week.
I trusted him and sent him the money.
I never heard from this thief again.
Apparently, he is pulling the same scam on other past "friends".