Oxfam warns against premium-rate scam

12/03/2008

Oxfam's name has been used in a new email scam designed to get recipients to ring a high-cost phone line - and the charity is especially worried that older, vulnerable people will fall victim to it.
The scam works like this: a message in the charity’s name informs recipients that they have won £850,000 in a lottery run by the charity, and asks them to call a premium-rate line to find out how to get the money.

Part of the email, which has the subject line “Oxfam Grant/Donation Award 2008!”, reads as follows: “Your Email was selected from your country’s chambers of commerce and you have been confirmed as one of The lucky recipients of this year’s donation programme. You are also entitled to the sum of EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND POUNDS STERLING (£850,000.00) as charity donations/aid from the Oxfam GB (UK) International donation scheme.”

It then asks recipients to phone a premium rate phone-line. Please ignore it.