COUNCIL chiefs have issued an alert after a grieving family was targeted by online fraudsters.

A New Forest solicitor raised the alarm when one of his clients received an e-mail from someone claiming to have been a friend of his mother, who had just died.

The sender expressed sympathy and offered to give the family a large sum of money “to help them through their difficult time”.

However, the e-mail requested a three-figure sum to cover “bank charges” that had to be paid before the cash could be transferred.

The solicitor, who does not want to be named, became suspicious and discovered that the e-mail had come from Nigeria.

“Fortunately, as I was dealing with the administration of his mother’s estate, the son referred the e-mail to me,” he said.

“I asked him if his mother knew anyone in Nigeria and explained that it was a scam. He agreed that no further correspondence with them should take place.”

Now the Safer New Forest Partnership, which comprises the district council and other organisations, is urging e-mail users to be on their guard.

Councillor Jill Cleary, Cabinet member for housing and communities, said: “This type of con is a despicable act by fraudsters who have no morals.”