Scam or wrong address?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I just received this email:

electric bill

H,i fachverwirrt and Nick,
First, let me introduce myself. I am Dutch, the owner of the property where you live. I hope that you enjoy the place as much as we always have! The winters are usually gorgeous, the spring, summer and fall even better! You also have great neighbors in Tim and Morgan!
The last electric bill was $155. Included in that amount is a little time that you were not there. (I assume that you moved in around the 15 of last month). The meter is read on the 10th of each month. Thus, there are 5 days use, not yours. My bill in that month ran about $80 (unoccupied, but heated house). Thus, my portion still is $80/6, or about $15.-. (the 6= 30/5 days). As I agreed to pay $100/month of your power bill, you owe me $155- $15 - $100 = $40. Please add this to next month’s rent. As Jerry probably told you, you are welcome to use whatever firewood you can find, including possible dead trees.
Have a happy X-mas and a very good New Year!
Regards,
Dutch

I don’t live with Nick, don’t have any neighbors named Tim and Morgan, haven’t moved in six years, and own my house; obviously none of this has anything to do with me.

So, the 6 million dollar question is: did this person simply email the wrong fachverwirrt (my real name is not unique, and the email address is a version of that name, so it seems a reasonable enough mistake) or is this some sort of scam? How would this sort of scam work? Since I don’t have any rent to add $40 to, how would this person be hoping to collect money?

I think I’m pretty safe in just ignoring it, but I’m curious what anyone else thinks.

2

Write back and ask what’s up.

3

It seems a little elaborate if it’s just intended to get you to verify a working email address. I’d lean toward it being a mistaken address.

I think I’d be inclined to write back.

4

I’d write back and say “sorry, wrong e-mail address.”

(I received a recipe for potato salad once addressed to someone with the same name as me. I wrote back and said “Sorry, wrong e-mail address, but thanks for the recipe!” The person was all, “Thanks for letting me know…you’re welcome!”)

5

Ya think? :smiley:

Write back and ask.

6

Looks legit. I found his address in an Asheville, NC publication advertising a house for rent; the ad mentions that he will pay $100/month for electricity. Guess I’ll email him back.