Some of the emails, which “are likely to be fraudulent”, according to the Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC) and the island’s Joint Financial Crimes Unit (JFCU), also threaten family members using information taken from social media accounts.
Recipients are urged not to contact the malicious emailers or hand over any money.
“As people receive many unsolicited spam emails, and have become increasingly immune to basic scams, perpetrators as a result are either using more threatening methods; or utilising personal information, often mined from social media networks such as Facebook and LinkedIn, to try to make their attacks appear more genuine.
“The JFSC and the JFCU take these allegations very seriously, although we do not believe that there is a credible threat of the actions being pursued.”
Anyone who has fallen victim to, or believes they have been targeted by, this scam in the crown dependency should contact the JFCU via jfcuadmin@jersey.pnn.police.uk
Regulated financial services providers should contact their respective supervisor at the JFSC.
