Warnings have been issued over a bizarre new email scam that is dropping through inboxes this week.
Tayside woman Gillian Bayford and her now-estranged husband Adrian won a £148 million jackpot two years ago, with a portion of their good fortune purportedly set for “five lucky individuals” in a circular sent to community groups that may be “eligible for a grant”.
The email, claiming to be from Australian economist Tim Harcourt on the family’s behalf, has spurred police and Government bodies to warn against a “very targeted approach” to online fraud.
Mr Bayford is quoted as writing: “I and my wife won a jackpot lottery of 148 million pounds in the ongoing Euromillion (sic) Lottery held in August 2012.
“Presently we are in India to see one of our charity homes.
“However, we voluntarily decided to donate the sum of 800,000 Great British pounds sterling to you as part of our Adrian and Gillian Bayford charity project to improve the lot of five unknown lucky individuals all over the world, plus 10 close friends and family.
“We have tried contacting you since last year but we could not reach you.”
The email even goes as far as linking to news articles on the Bayford story so far. The email is signed off with a “best of luck” and “God bless you”.
The recipient is instructed to pay a transaction fee of £110 to receive their “grant” but the money will never be sent.
Angus Council and Police Scotland will now launch a campaign called Operation CARPUS, during which officers will visit people who may have been victims of financial scamming.