Isle of Wight News- #IW NEWS Isle of Wight Gazette

OUTSPOKEN Labour councillor Geoff Lumley’s email account has been hacked by internet fraudsters The Gazette can exclusively reveal.

The frauders who sent out messages to hundreds of his contacts which claimed he was stranded in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and needed needed funds to fly home.

Mr Lumley confirmed to “The Gazette” that emails had been sent to a “significant number of people” in his address book

The con artists, believed to be Nigerian, accessed the Councillor Private email account and sent out emails which said he had lost his bag while on short trip to Malaysia.

It is believed up to 1000 emails, which carried the official heading from the Councillor, were sent to constituents, council officials, Labour Party members and the Gazette.

Mr Lumley confirmed the emails had been sent to a “significant number of people” in his address book.

He said there were no security issues relating to post or emails as it was his private email address that was targeted.

He added: “I started getting phone calls from various constituents asking if I was really in Malaysia needing money.

” I am assured by Google there’s no evidence that confidentiality of constituents have been affected,” said Geoff.

“The internet is wonderful in many ways, but these gangs put a lot of effort in because they make money from it. In a lot of cases they do get people to cough up.

The email, sent on Wednesday morning , said Mr Lumley was taking a short break and was stuck at a hotel in Malaysia.

He is quoted as saying: “I misplaced my bag 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.”

A number of constituent is believed to have replied to the email, but nobody offered any money.

The Gmail account was later suspended by Google officials.

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