Patricia Hewitt gives away £6 million

What do fraudsters and Patricia Hewitt have in common?

Well, according to an old email doing the rounds, she's incredibly eager to give away £6 million to anyone who wants to get in touch. Provided you send in your bank details, of course.

One has to give credit where it's due. This inspired aping of a government minister makes a nice change after hundreds of "Dearest beloved, I am the orphaned daughter of..." spam emails.

The Register offers up the attempt in all its glory. I particularly like this important caveat:

You could get personal info. on me via the Parliament sites or on my official website, but do not try to contact me via any personal information you may lay your hands upon on the internet as almost all my contact info are connected to the British House of Parliament data base except the ones I personally sent to you; as I don't want our effort and my reputation, jeopardized

Well, quite.

Still one question stands out. What are people more likely to delete? An email from the Labour Party or one from an exiled doctor in Nigeria? Perhaps these conmen aren't so clever after all.

Alice Fishburn