Terrible Situation Am Into (NEEDS YOUR HELP)

Apparently the latest scam. I got the email below. My wife got a similar one but signed by someone else. In both cases these are people we know, but not very well.

Hello,

I'm sorry i didn't inform anyone about my short vacation with my
family to London, England. Unfortunately we were mugged at the park of
the hotel where we stayed. Mobile phones, all cash, credit card were
stolen off us, but luckily for us we still have our passports with us.

We've been to the embassy and the Police here, but they're not helping
issues at all and our flight leaves in few hrs from now, but we're
having problems settling the hotel bills. We already suggested to
postpone the bills but the hotel management insisted we should
contacts our friends at home to send funds our way to settle the bills
and also have extra money to return home. We are anxiously waiting for
your reply.

Thanks
Richard