Warning about email scam
An e-mail message in English about an inheritance to be obtained is circulating on the Internet. This e-mail message appears to have been sent on behalf of the Tax and Customs Administration in Heerlen. The fact of the matter, however, is that this is an attempted fraud.
The e-mail message is so-called 'scammail': a form of fraud that uses e-mail as a medium. The e-mail states that the recipient has been identified as the heir of a certain Christopher Watkins and stands to receive $ 2,500,000. However, he will only receive this amount if he transfers € 3,750 to a particular account number.
There are also emails about a lottery price which has been won and that a lottery tax of € 3,750 must be paid to claim the price. Also different names from people working at the Tax and Customs Administration are mentioned.
To make the e-mail seem authentic, the Internet site mentioned in the e-mail refers to the site of the Ministry of General Affairs. The Ministry of General Affairs, however, has nothing to do with the e-mail message. Furthermore, a part of the address of the Tax and Customs Administration is given at the bottom of the e-mail, which creates the impression that the message was sent by the Tax and Customs Administration. This is also not the case. The Tax and Customs Administration is definitely not the sender of the e-mail and has nothing to do with its contents. The Tax and Customs Administration warns everyone not to respond to this e-mail message.