E-MAIL SCAMS

A number of e-mail scams have been perpetrated recently, purporting to be from "the Masons of Bournemouth" or "the Masons of Winchester" announcing that the recipient has been chosen to share in an annual dividend of $2.5 US masonic charity money.

The e-mails originate in Germany and Brazil and are a feint to get the recipient to forward their bank details. Neither the groups, the money, nor the London solicitors, mentioned in the e-mail, exist.

The British Federation of The International Order of Co-Freemasonry, Le Droit Humain, has nothing to do with this circular and we advise our members to destroy any such e-mails upon receipt. We recommend you do not even preview the e-mails as this may have undesirable consequences and lead to identity theft or potential virus intrusion.

We are in sympathy with all masonic fraternities in wishing to put the lie to this e-mail which sadly appears to have been received by a significant number of non-masons and which is not good for the public reputation of freemasonry. If you know of anyone who has received it, please correct any false impressions or refer people to this communication.