Global General

Special

Newsmaker

Asia Pacific

America

Middle East

Europe

Africa

Web fraudsters target British Justice Secretary

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-02-26 07:46

British Justice Secretary Jack Straw was targeted by Internet fraudsters who sent e-mails to his contacts claiming he was in need of emergency money while on a foreign trip, according to a media report yesterday.

Straw told the Lancashire Telegraph that the scammers had e-mailed ministry officials, ruling Labor Party members, and constituents asking for $3,000 dollars because he had lost his wallet while in the Nigerian capital of Lagos. The fake e-mail said: "I misplaced my wallet on my way to the hotel where my money and other valuable things were kept. I would like you to assist me with a soft loan urgently to settle my hotel bills and get myself back home."

It claimed that Straw was visiting Lagos for a project called Empowering Youth to Fight Racism, though he was in fact in Britain. The account, a Hotmail e-mail address that he used to deal with constituency matters, was suspended by Microsoft.