Nigerians ask for stack after they hack Jack
By politics.co.uk staff
Justice secretary Jack Straw was the victim of internet fraudsters who hacked his personal account and sent out hundreds of e-mails asking for money.
Messages were sent to council chiefs, government officials and others asking for US$3,500.They claimed he was stuck in Africa, had lost his wallet and needed the money to get home.
He told the Lancashire Telegraph: “I started getting phone calls from various constituents asking if I was really in Nigeria needing 3,000 dollars.
“It was an issue for constituents, not the government.”We are checking all that and I am assured there’s no evidence that confidentiality of constituents was affected.”
Mr Straw said this was not a national security issue as the account hacked was one for his Blackburn constituency and not his ministerial account.
The e-mail itself said: “I misplaced my wallet on my way to the hotel where my money and other valuable things were kept.”I would like you to assist me with a soft loan urgently to settle my hotel bills and get myself back home”.
The account has now been suspended and although one person did reply to the e-mail no money was offered.
