Isolated Iceland newly vulnerable to computer scams

Asgeirsson at work in Reykjavik, Iceland. Asgeirsson lost US$68,000 in an online scam. The people of Iceland, who speak a unique dialect of Old Norse, are no longer protected from online fraud because of their linguistic isolation. — Photos: AP

REYKJAVIK, Iceland: "Hi, I hope you are not busy?"

The treasurer of the Icelandic soccer club Afturelding got the email from his manager late in the afternoon, soon before banks were about to close. The words "Sent from my iPhone” were at the bottom, suggesting urgency, and through a series of exchanges, the manager asked that a quick payment be made.