Beware the e-mail bequest notice scam

Via the Community Contacts on-line crime-warning system, Sussex Police are setting out the entire e-mail, spelling mistakes included, to put the public on their guard.

The e-mail purports to tell the recipient that they are a beneficiary under the will of the late Luther Schroeder and that earlier attempts to contact the beneficiary by post have failed.

The e-mail says Herr Schroeder was an engineer.

"Being a widely travelled man, he must have been in contact with you in the past (through any medium) or simply you were recommended to him by one of his numerous friends abroad...."

It continues: "According to him this money is to support humanitarian activities and to help the poor and the needy in the society. Please if I reach you this time as I am hopeful, endeavor to get back to me as soon as possible to enable me conclude my job.'

Police advise the public to delete the e-mail immediately. The e-mail return address is from a general provider, not a company.

"All of these anomalies suggest this is a scam. Delete it and don't get drawn in."

Police have also had more reports of e-mails being received by members of the public purporting to be from a bank security department under the guise of protecting the recipient because an attempt has been made to access their internet banking account.

Again, police advise the public to delete the e-mail immediately.

"If you do have an account with the named bank then go to their main website, do not use the link provided on the email and give them a ring to confirm or deny that there is a problem. That way you have peace of mind and then delete the email. It's always worth informing the bank that there are emails claiming to come from them doing the rounds."

Leaflets are still being distributed regarding clothing collections. They are from companies, not charities. Donated clothes are sold to third world countries, not given.

Police say the practice is not illegal but warn the public to read the leaflets carefully and if they do not wish their donated clothes to be sold to give them to a charity.