Consumers should take care not to be duped by this fake Nigerian email which would ultimately lead to the recipient's own bank account being stripped of its funds.
This latest twist to the decade-old worldwide Nigerian scam is the first to involve the head of government of any country.
Consumer Watch spokesman Paul Tully has warned internet users to be wary of all unsolicited emails offering massive payments.
"These scams rely on a hit rate of less than one percent.
"Consumers are being duped across the world on a daily basis with the so-called Advance Fee email scam which originated in Nigeria in the mid-nineties.
"People are induced to pay thousands of dollars upfront to a foreign bank account as a bogus release fee for enormous sums of money.
"But the money never comes through.
"The latest scam pretends to be direct from the office of the British Prime Minister which will probably dupe many more internet users than usual."
This is the full text of the email:
From: Prime Minister's Office hm-treasury@msn.com
Prime Minister's Office,
10 Downing Street, London,
SW1A 2AA
Our ref: Number10
Your ref:...Date: 15/03/2011
IMMEDIATE PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
I am The Rt Hon David Cameron MP, Prime Minister's Office.
This letter is to officially inform you that (MasterCard Number 5454 7168 0041
0640) has been accredited with your favor.
Your Personal Identification
Number is 1010.
The MasterCard Value is £2,000,000.00 (Two Million, Great
British Pounds Sterling).
This office will send to you an Visa/MasterCard that you will use to withdraw
your funds in any ATM MACHINE CENTER or Visa card outlet in the world with a maximum of £10,000.00 GBP daily.
Further more,you will be required to re-confirm the following information to enable The Rt Hon George Osborne MP
Chancellor of the Exchequer HM Treasury begin in processing of your MasterCard.
(1) Full names:
(2) Address:
(3) Country:
(4) Nationality:
(5) Phone #:
(6) Age:
(7) Occupation:
(8) Post Codes:
Rt Hon George Osborne MP
Chancellor of the Exchequer
HM Treasury
Horse Guards Road
LONDON SW1A 2HQ
Email:
hm-treasury@msn.com
Tel: (+44) 746 670 4915
TAKE NOTICE: That you are warned to stop further communications with any
other person(s) or office(s) different from the staff of The UK's Economics &
Finance Ministry to avoid hitches in receiving your
payment.
Regards,
Rt Hon David Cameron MP
British Prime Minister
