It was reported by the BBC on 13th March 2014, that a health watchdog in the UK is warning that thousands of people have been sent hoax emails suggesting they have cancer.
The messages appear to come from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
It says the contents are likely to be distressing and has reported the hoax to the police.
It is not clear exactly how many people are affected, but based on the high number of calls to the organisation it is thought to number thousands.
Sir Andrew Dillon, the chief executive of NICE, said: “A spam email purporting to come from NICE is being sent to members of the public regarding cancer test results.
“This email is likely to cause distress to recipients since it advises that ‘test results’ indicate they may have cancer.
“This malicious email is not from NICE and we are currently investigating its origin. We take this matter very seriously and have reported it to the police.”
NICE is advising people who have received the email – the subject line of which is important blood analysis result – to delete it without opening it and not to click on any links.
Comment
A very nasty type of hoax email aimed solely at causing alarm and distress. No reports I have been passed to Safe Communities Algarve that anyone in the British community hear in the Algarve has received this hoax email.
- Portuguese military force ambushed in Central African Republic
- Hurricane Lorenzo reaches the Azores
- Eighty one arrests in investigation targeting Spanish cocaine trafficking group
- Tancos Military Weapons theft case: Former Director of the Military Judicial Police Luis Vieira will ask to make a pre-trial statement
- Azores prepares for arrival of Hurricane Lorenzo
- GOVERNO PRORROGA PERÍODO CRÍTICO DE INCÊNDIOS
- Government Extends Critical Fire Period unitil 10th October 2019
- Azores Regional Government prepares the necessary measures to face Hurricane Lorenzo
- Four GNR military defendants accused of Tancos in disciplinary proceedings opened by IGAI
- PSP detain two persons for using counterfeit 100 Euro bank notes
- Four arrested for international drug trafficking at Lisbon airport
- Secretary of State for Civil Protection Resigns from office
- São Miguel Island – Person identifies in connection with the theft of gold items from a resident
- Some 7000 operative dealt with 25 major fires on 13th and 14th September
- Safe Communities Recognized as a Civil Protection Volunteer Organisation
