Cheshire Police are warning people to be wary of unusual emails after three local organisations have had their emails hacked by scammers.
At the beginning of the week Alderley Edge Festival Hall was targeted by a scam aimed at getting unsuspecting recipients to part with their money in the belief that the person who sent the email has come to harm in a foreign country.
St Theresa's in Wilmslow and St Mary′s in Middlewich were also targeted by the same scam.
Everyone on the contact list of the festival hall email account was sent an email saying the Festival Hall manager Ashley Comiskey Dawson had been robbed at gun point and was stranded in Madrid - needing help to settle his bills at the hotel before being allowed to leave.
Inspector Mark Gammage said "Any email requesting money should be regarded with caution. Often the spelling and grammar is a give away as the email tends to be riddled with mistakes. Delete the email and definitely do not give your bank details or send any money.
"My concern is that the more vulnerable or elderly residents may fall prey to a scam such as this. I would urge anyone who has had communications of this type to disregard the content and report it to police. Any advice regarding matters of this nature can be sought from your local police, Trading Standards and Citizens Advice Bureau."
If you have already given money police advise residents to; end all further contact with the fraudsters; not to send them any more money and if you have given the fraudsters your bank account details, contact your bank immediately.
If the fraudsters threaten you once you stop co-operating with them, tell the police immediately and be aware that you will probably be targeted for other frauds as fraudsters frequently pass on the details of people they have successfully targeted to other fraudsters.
