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09. 02. 10. - 12:00

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09. 02. 10. - 12:00

Austrians targeted by fraudsters

Austrians are being targeted by fraudsters throughout Europe, police warned today (Tues).

They said Austrians were being sent faxes and e-mails promising them inheritance money if they in turn make a prepayment or supply their bank account data.

Styrian police said many Styrians had received faxes from an English woman named Sandra Talbot, who claimed she was an advisor of a dead relative of theirs who had left an inheritance of 7.5 million Euros and fax addressees had only to register with her to qualify for some of it.

The faxes said that 20 per cent of the inheritance would go to charity and the rest would be divided up among the advisor and addressees.

Police said the fraudsters’ goal was to get as many people as possible to register to enable them to discuss remittances of money to cover the advisor’s "expenses," for example.
                
Police warned people not to make contact with Talbot or to remit any money to her.    
            
Lower Austrian police official Franz Wendler added that many people had received e-mails and faxes with fake notices of the deaths of relatives who had supposedly left large inheritances.

The messages claim an expert will help people get their inheritances if they make a prepayment.

The messages ask recipients of them for bank transfers or submission of bank account data.

Wendler said: "In no case should anyone transfer money or supply account data. People who receive such messages should inform the local police."
                
He added that such fraudsters were scattered throughout Europe and Austrian police and Interpol were searching for them.

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