An Email Scam Conned out 1.1 Million Pound from St Aldhelm Academy

Metro.co.uk reported on 8th April, 2014 stating that St Aldhelm's Academy which is a school with England's worst GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) has been duped of 1.1 million Pound after its staff fell victim to a simple online fraud.

The staff of St Aldhelm Academy in Poole, Dorset, England was persuaded to pay large sum of money via an email scam last year.

The school was undertaking a huge rebuilding plan and a group of scammers posed as Kier, the building contractor of the school.

The fraudsters got in touch with the school notifying them that Kier has changed its bank information and urged the school to change mandate of its bank details. The school complied as a result funds were transferred into a bogus account.

It is obvious that the government loaned this money to for rebuilding purpose, due to which Police were called in to probe the matter when staff realized that they have been conned.

Tes.co.uk published news on 8th April, 2014 mentioning a statement of Cheryl Heron, Principal of St Aldhelm, which confirms the ripping of the academy but despite it confirmed the smooth functioning of the school.

Dailymail.co.uk published news on 7th April, 2014 quoting Conor Burns, a British Conservative Party Politician who worked closely with the school, as saying "This appalling fraud is a very sad and serious event for the school. I have been aware of this for some time and working with ministers to try to support the school maximum. The top priority for me and them is to ensure recovery of the school from this blow and it firmly focus on giving best possible learning to young people for starting their life."

Spokesman of a Department of Education said that St Aldhelm has been victim of a complicated serious swindle by a third party.

Dailymail.co.uk published news on 7th April, 2014 stating that the matter was instantly referred to the Police and Action Fraud and EFA (European Finance Association) by the trust of Academy and police continues to investigate the matter.

» SPAMfighter News - 4/18/2014