[15 MAR 01] CRIMES, FIRES & ACCIDENTS
Bogus E-mail Warning To City Firms

Police are urging Coventry companies to be on their guard after a bogus e-mail apparently from an officer was sent to businesses.

The e-mail purports to come from a West Midlands officer, a Det Insp Noel Evans, although no such officer works for West Midlands Police.

The bogus e-mail reads as follows:

"My name is Det Insp Noel Evans from the West Midlands Fraud Squad and I am investigating a network of criminal activities which is spanning the country involving the IT industry.

"We have been given some names which we need to match, but with no company names, so we are trawling various companies thoughout the region asking for assistance in supplying us with organisational charts or an internal telephone directory.

"I would appreciate any assistance you can give us in this matter.

"Yours sincerely

"DI N Evans."

A West Midlands Police spokesman said:

"This e-mail has been brought to our attention. Noel Evans is not a West Midlands Police officer and we would not "trawl" companies by e-mail asking for details of this type.

"We would advise members of the public and companies to be wary of any unsolicited electronic communication which asks them to supply personal or business details."