NFIB receives 19,000 scam email in four days

More than 19,000 scam emails have poured into the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) since a dedicated link was set up for people targeted online by fraudsters.

For years, criminals have been sending letters telling recipients they have won the lottery, are in line for a massive inheritance or have won a competition, and that to claim the prize they only need pay an administration fee.

Today the objective remains the same, but electronic mail is now the favoured vehicle to distribute tens of thousands of scam letters that seek to persuade people to pay an advanced fee for a sum of money they will never see.

Anyone who has thinks they have received a scam email should now forward it on to: email@actionfraud.org.uk

Over the course of the next few weeks the NFIB, located at the City of London Police’s Economic Crime Directorate, will be analysing the emails to identify their response that will disrupt the fraudsters.

The Director of the NFIB, Det Supt Tony Crampton, said:

“We thank the general public for this overwhelming response and urge them to keep on forwarding us their scam emails. These will all be analysed at the NFIB and the resulting intelligence will be used to disrupt the architects of these crimes.”

Speaking on the launch of the campaign at the end of February Dr Bernard Herdan, CEO of the National Fraud Authority who runs Action Fraud, said:

"This is the first time we have been able to collect and analyse scam mail and emails in this way. Collecting intelligence is the key to us being able to disrupt the activities of fraudsters and target their networks for closure."

What should you do if you’ve received a scam email?

• Do not click on any links in the scam email.
• Do not reply to the email or contact the senders in any way.
• If you have clicked on a link in the email, do not supply any information on the website that may open.
• Do not open any attachments that arrive with the email.
• Visit the Action Fraud website where there is information on how to forward on your scam mail. When you send an email you are doing so over the open internet, which we cannot guarantee the security of. Therefore please do not send personal information, such as your address or bank account details, when emailing Action Fraud.

If you think you may have compromised the safety of your bank details and/or have lost money due to fraudulent misuse of your cards, you should immediately contact your bank.

For more information go to www.actionfraud.org.uk or call 0300 123 2040.