Police are warning the public not to give out their personal details under any circumstances when contacted via email.
One of the latest emails to be circulated has the subject title 'CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE WON!!!' and goes on to tell the recipient they have won a portion of a multi-million dollar lottery prize as part of a soccer World Cup promotion.
Recipients are then asked to provide personal information, including your bank account details, phone numbers, address details, occupation and a scanned copy of your passport or driver's licence.
Detective Inspector Brian Hay, Fraud and Corporate Crime Group, said this email was yet another blatant attempt to steal people's identities and gain access to their bank accounts.
"Under no circumstances should any person consider responding to such emails," Detective Inspector Hay said.
"The consequences of identity theft can last for many years and the provision of this information could see crime committed in numerous countries under the names of innocent victims."
Detective Inspector Hay said to protect themselves from email-distributed scams, people should delete emails if they don't know the sender, it claims to be from a bank, or it offers employment, investment or money-making opportunities.
"Do not open it, do not read it, just delete it," Detective Inspector Hay said.
One of the latest emails to be circulated has the subject title 'CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE WON!!!' and goes on to tell the recipient they have won a portion of a multi-million dollar lottery prize as part of a soccer World Cup promotion.
Recipients are then asked to provide personal information, including your bank account details, phone numbers, address details, occupation and a scanned copy of your passport or driver's licence.
Detective Inspector Brian Hay, Fraud and Corporate Crime Group, said this email was yet another blatant attempt to steal people's identities and gain access to their bank accounts.
"Under no circumstances should any person consider responding to such emails," Detective Inspector Hay said.
"The consequences of identity theft can last for many years and the provision of this information could see crime committed in numerous countries under the names of innocent victims."
Detective Inspector Hay said to protect themselves from email-distributed scams, people should delete emails if they don't know the sender, it claims to be from a bank, or it offers employment, investment or money-making opportunities.
"Do not open it, do not read it, just delete it," Detective Inspector Hay said.