Fraudsters hijack vicar's e-mail

Mr Stranack hopes that others will learn from his mistake

Internet fraudsters hijacked a retired Cornish vicar's e-mail address to send bogus emails pleading for cash.

The Rev Richard Stranack, who now lives in Exmouth, Devon, believes they hoped to cash in on his religious status.

He received what he thought was an e-mail from Yahoo asking for his personal details.

Three days later his daughter called him to say that according to an e-mail, he was stranded in Africa, with a request to send $2,500 (£1,257).

Like a fool I told someone more than they needed to know Rev Richard Stranack

He said: "I had just moved from Duloe to Exmouth and was checking my email.

"One said it was from Yahoo mail support and said my account had not been accessed for some time and my details had to be renewed.

"Like a fool I told someone more than they needed to know.

"Three days later I got a call from one of my daughters saying she had an e-mail saying I was in Africa.

The e-mail stated: "I am really stranded in Nigeria because I forgot my little bag in the Taxi where my money, passport, documents and other valuable things were kept on my way to the Hotel am staying, I am facing a hard time here because i have no money on me.

"I am now owning a hotel bill of $1,200 and they wanted me to pay the bill soon else they will have to seize my bag and hand me over to the Hotel Management.

"I need this help from you urgently to help me back home, I need you to help me with the hotel bill and i will also need $1,300 to feed and help myself back home so please can you help me with a sum of $2,500 to sort out my problems here?

Thanks God Bless. REV. Richard Stranack"

Mr Stranack said: "They were using the fact that I have Reverend in front of my name as a handle to get money.

Account changed

"But it was so long-winded and badly spelled that most of my friends were laughing by the end of it."

The incident was reported to Devon and Cornwall Police and Mr Stranack's account has now been changed with a new password.

As far as he is aware, no-one has sent any money.

Steven Parkinson, a computer expert with SW Computers in Camborne, said the e-mail was part of a phishing scam in which fraudsters attempt to get private information from internet users.

He said: "No respected bank or email provider would send you an e-mail saying 'You have to update your account, click here'.

"Just delete it and contact your provider."

In a similar incident earlier this month, a Hampshire MP had her private e-mail hacked into and a hoax message sent out saying she had been robbed in Nigeria.