Christchurch UKIP Candidate Alleges Email Account Hacking by Cybercriminals

Bournemouthecho.co.uk reported on 6th April, 2015 stating that Robin Grey, a candidate of UKIP (UK Independence Party), has declared that his emails were intentionally targeted by hackers.

A fake email was sent recently (2nd April, 2015) from his party's email address and also from his personal email address to his several contacts saying that he was trapped in Ukraine after being stripped of all his cash and thus requires money to return to UK.

The email promised to refund the money to the recipient as soon as he (Mr. Grey) returns back home.

The fake email concluded with an apparent automatic official signature which is used commonly on emails.

This type of phishing scandal is quite common and tries to convince recipients to disclose their bank credentials to the hacker.

Mr. Grey believes that it was a well-executed plan to create problems for him, although he did not name anyone who may mastermind this hacking, reported bournemouthecho.co.uk on 6th April, 2015.

Unfortunately, Mr. Grey was struck by stranded abroad email scam. In such scams, hackers hack into an account (like Mr. Grey's account in this case) and then send email from the account to all the email addresses of the address book with false claims stating that the victim has been robbed and hence is being stranded and in need of money. Security experts explain that since the messages are being sent from the actual webmail address of the hacked victim and most probably include his or her real name and email signature, at least some recipients may believe the content of the email.

However, many will quickly realize that something is wrong. In fact, they may know that their friend has not gone to overseas as claimed in the email or they may suspect a fraud attempt. But even if only one contact of the large address book falls in the trick and sends money assuming that he is helping a friend who is in dire need, the scheme will pay off well for the scammers.

You should report such online frauds to Action Fraud which is the national fraud and Internet crime reporting center of UK.

» SPAMfighter News - 4/13/2015