Hale vicar victim of email account hacker (From Messenger Newspapers)

Hale vicar victim of email account hacker

4:00pm Sunday 2nd September 2012 in News By Kate Banks, Reporter

A VICAR from Hale was targeted by scammers when her personal email account was hacked.

The email sent from the Reverend Libby Lane’s private address, not from the St Peter’s Hale Church account, said she had been held up at gun point while on holiday in Madrid and asked her email contacts for money.

The hackers then deleted her entire list of contacts.

“I wasn’t in Madrid and never have been,” said Mrs Lane.

“They hadn’t been able to pick up any private information or any information in terms of my personal life.
 

“It all happened over night, I was using my email late the night before and then my husband phoned me from work at 8.20am the next morning to tell I had been hacked.”
 

Her email was re-secured within a day by her email provider and her contact list was restored within 36 hours.
 

The Reverend added: “My email address has now been completely re-secured.

There is no danger that anyone in touch with me is in any danger at all.
 

“I would advise people to never respond to an email that asks for money online.
 

“The fact that I’m a vicar has nothing to do with it, this could happen to anybody.”

A statement on actionfraud.police.uk, which advises victims of hacking, said: “Many frauds start with a phishing email.
 

“Remember that banks and financial institutions will not send you an email asking you to click on a link and confirm your bank details.
 

“Do not trust such emails, even if they look genuine.

“You can always call your bank using the phone number on a genuine piece of correspondence.”

For advice or if you have been a victim of fraud call Action Fraud on 0300 1232040 or contact your email provider.