The hoax e-mail purports to be sent from the South African Reserve Bank and promises access to unclaimed or frozen funds by acting as a next of kin for a deceased person who died in a plane crash. (See over for example of the scam e-mail)

These types of hoax e-mails or letters are the same as a Nigerian scam or advanced fee frauds. These e-mails and letters promise you a benefit or reward in return for your help in offloading some cash or other commodity.

To ensure you receive a cut of the funds, the criminals will ask for bank account details. Once those are provided the criminals extort advance fees such as customs tax or bribes to facilitate the transfer.

David Bell, Chief Executive of the ABA, said: “Hoax e-mails should be ignored and deleted. Be very suspicious of e-mails sent by people unknown to you.”

“Some of these hoax e-mails contain spelling mistakes and direct you to a link which may trigger a download of malicious software which may infect your computer.”

“It is important to remember that no bank or bona fide organisation will ask you to reveal personal information such as PINs and passwords. This information should not be shared with anyone.”

The Australian High Tech Crime Operations, hosted by the Australian Federal Police, has already been notified about this hoax e-mail and is taking appropriate steps to investigate its source and take further action as may be necessary.

Advice to customers who have received the hoax e-mail

• Delete the e-mail from your Inbox and from your Deleted Items
• Do not click on the link embedded in the e-mail
• If you have clicked on the link to the website in this hoax e-mail and provided personal information, contact your bank immediately for advice
• Install and keep up-to-date anti-virus and firewall software on your computer

Example of hoax e-mail