PSNI warning over email fraudsters

International fraudsters are using email to con people into giving them their bank details, internet users were warned today.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland urged people to ignore emails asking for help in transferring large sums of money out of Nigeria, South Africa and Sierra Leone.

The emails are a variation on a scam which has been operating for years through the international postal service.

Marked ‘secret’ or ‘confidential,’ fraudsters posing as high ranking officials in an African government ask recipients to give details of their bank or building society accounts to facilitate the transfer of huge sums of money out of countries like Nigeria, South Africa or Sierra Leone.

They promise up to a quarter of the funds in return for using the account.

The head of the PSNI’s Fraud Unit, Detective Chief Inspector Larry Cheshire said: “If you receive any suspicious material by post, fax or email do not reply.

“There have been cases where companies sending polite letters of refusal have had their letterheads used by the gangs.

“Any contact will be followed up with a request to meet to discuss the deal. This will usually take place on mainland Europe and will lead to a requirement to provide an upfront payment (an advance fee) to secure the release of the money.

“The whole thing is a scam and is purely designed to part victims from their cash.

“There have been instances of Northern Ireland residents losing out to these conmen, so beware. If it sounds to good to be true, then it is.”