Oxfam email scam condemned

Experts are warning of a new email scam purporting to be from the charity Oxfam which aims to get personal bank details from surfers.

Security firm Sophos said the email claims that the recipient has won £850,000 in a lottery run by Oxfam and then asks the claimant to reply to get details on how the winnings will be transferred.

The email currently doing the rounds on the net has the subject line "Oxfam Grant/Donation Award 2008!!!!!!!".

Part of the email reads: "Your Email was selected from your country's chambers of commerce and you have been confirmed as one of The lucky recipients of this year's donation programme. You are also entitled to the sum of EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND POUNDS STERLING (£850,000.00) as charity donations/aid from the Oxfam GB (UK) International donation scheme."

A spokesperson from Sophos described the people behind this latest scam as "sick".

"Oxfam is one of the world's most respected aid agencies, fighting famine around the globe. But the sick people behind this scam don't seem to have any qualms about bringing the charity's name into disrepute," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos.

The scam email directs recipients to contact a live.com address, and also lists a UK telephone number beginning 070. Last year Sophos revealed that 070 telephone numbers are frequently used by lottery scammers who can redirect calls using the system to any phone number in the world.

"Of course, Oxfam is not responsible for the email and internet users need to learn that any unsolicited lottery win email arriving in their Inbox is likely to be sent by a conman, not a charity worker. Replying to the email risks putting your financial well-being in danger," Cluley continued.

www.sophos.com
www.oxfam.org.uk