From Derbyshire Ring Master - for info

[Gerty Gumdrop]

This arrived in our inboxes at work today, so I thought I'd best pass it on......

[Reference: C299 Email warning from the ONS]

The following is from the Office for National Statistics
 
Statement from Director of the 2011 Census, Glen Watson, Friday 27 January 2012.
 
‘We are aware that an email entitled 'Population Census: a message to everyone - act now' is being circulated, allegedly in the name of National Statistician, Jil Matheson. This email demands individuals provide further personal information, supposedly for the Census and threatens fines for non-compliance.

This email is a scam and a hoax. It has no connection whatsoever with the National Statistician, the 2011 Census or the Office for National Statistics.

We believe the links in the email could download malware to any computer where the user clicks on the links. This could put your personal data, including financial information, at risk.

Anyone receiving this, or similar emails, should delete them, not open any links and certainly not provide any information.

For more information on how to protect yourself from this type of threat, please see MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "172.16.0.2" claiming to be www.getsafeonline.org

If you wish to, please report receipt of any such suspicious emails to MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "172.16.0.2" claiming to be www.actionfraud.org.uk
 
ONS takes the protection of personal census information extremely seriously. Collection of census data was completed last year and no further requests will be forthcoming from the Office for National Statistics relating to the 2011 Census.’

[Pete]

Good post Gert. This sort of thing really gets me angry.

There is more and more of this coming in our email boxes to the point that no serious company or government dept should do it.

I remember saying to my bank manager a couple of years ago not to ever send me any serious communications via email as I won't act upon it unless it is a scam, either a virus/malware or a phishing attempt.