OYEZ! Oyez! Oyez! A town crier has been targeted by conmen trying to obtain cash from people he knows.

Romsey town crier Terry Hamer’s email account was hacked by the scammers, who then sent out hundreds of messages as part of their con.

Their fake email claimed that Terry and his family had been mugged by a gang of thugs in Jakarta, Indonesia, and were unable to pay their hotel bills.

The emails, with the subject heading ‘Sad News’, stated: “My family and I made an unexpected trip to Jakarta for a programme. The programme was successful but our journey has turned sour. Everything was going fine until last night when we were mugged in an alley by a gang of thugs on our way back from shopping.

All cash, credit cards and phones were stolen away, including some valuables items. It was a terrible experience but the good thing is that they didn’t hurt anyone or made away with our passports. I’ve reported it to the local authorities and cancelled all our cards.”

Asking for cash, the email went on: “I am really having some difficulties clearing our hotel bills. We’re financially strapped due to the unexpected robbery attack. I’d be indeed grateful if I can get a loan of £1,850 from you.

"This will enable me to sort out hotel bills but anything you can spare pending when we get things straightened out will be appreciated and I promise to refund it back as soon as we arrive home safely. Let me know what you can do so I can tell you how to get the money to me.”

The incident has been reported to the police and Hampshire Trading Standards chiefs.

Terry, who has been Romsey’s town crier for eight years, said: “I opened my emails and I had a flood of them, they just kept on coming through, then I had loads of phone calls to ask if I was alive and well.

“I am doing a check on my computer to try to track down how they got my details.”

A Trading Standards spokesman said “If people suspect their email accounts have been breached or that they are the recipient of a fraudulent email they are encouraged to report the issue to Action Fraud via the website actionfraud.police.uk.”

He said that further advice can be obtained from Citizens’ Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506.