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Hoax E-mails Circulate from Virgin Island's Lt. Governor's Hijacked Account



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Jan 7, 2008, News Report

The public is being advised to disregard e-mails sent bearing U.S. Virgin Island's Lieutenant Governor Gregory R. Francis' name which are asking for money. Francis learned of the hoax e-mail sent from his Hotmail account late Thursday, January 3, 2008 after receiving calls from concerned constituents who had received the e-mail message.

The e-mail sent from the Lt. Governor's account falsely claims that he has become stranded in Nigeria after attending a conference there. According to the e-mailed message, Francis lost his money, passport and other items and needs money wired to him via Western Union so that he can return to the territory. Recipients of the e-mail are asked to respond so that they can be sent the contact information needed to wire the requested funds.

Francis is urging the public to be suspicious of e-mails appearing to be from him or any other individual that ask for money. "The Internet has been used to scam unsuspecting people out of their hard earned money, usually with stories of woe and bad luck," says the Lt. Governor. "It is frustrating that my name -- one that people recognize and trust -- is being used in a widespread scheme to defraud an unsuspecting community." The Office of the Lieutenant Governor has notified the e-mail provider of the hacked account and is attempting to determine if there are any other breaches in security.

Contrary to the hoax e-mail, Lieutenant Governor Francis is not out of the territory. He is presently on St. Croix participating in the many festivities of the holiday season and of the St. Croix Festival.


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