Internet Fraud
Internet fraudsters sometimes use the names of NAO staff, including
the NAO Chairman and the Comptroller & Auditor General
(C&AG), or derivatives of “National Audit Office”, in an
attempt to defraud people through e-mail scams. One recent e-mail
scam included an image of a UK passport (fake passport) containing
a photograph of a former head of the NAO. Examples of other e-mail
scams are provided below:
- A message alleging to come from the C&AG (head of the NAO)
offering to transfer funds to your bank account. This is not a
genuine letter. No matter how real these messages may seem, even if
they have authentic-looking NAO logos, stamps, or forms of
identification (such as a passport), please note that no member of
NAO staff will ever offer to transfer funds into a personal bank
account.
- Unsolicited e-mail entitled "INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP WANTED"
claiming to be from the "National Lottery Audit department UK" and
offering to fix a lottery draw for the benefit of the e-mail
recipient. This is not a genuine e-mail but seeks to lure the
recipient into parting with confidential details and money through
fraudulent representations.
- There are also e-mails entitled "UN TRAINING" or "UN JOB
VACANCY” which claim to come from the National Audit Office
Recruitment Department. These e-mails offer "refundable" training,
with the promise of a lucrative UN job at the end. These are not
genuine e-mails and seek to lure the recipient into parting with
money and bank details in order to defraud them.
The e-mails described above are not genuine and are
nothing to do with the NAO. As such, we can only advise
that you ignore them and do not respond to them. If you wish to
make us aware of a scam e-mail which is fraudulently using the
names of NAO staff, or the NAO name, you should contact us
through our contact us page.
However, we would suggest that those who receive e-mail scams
might visit the website of GetSafeOnline.org. This is a
free public service from HM Government and partners to help
individuals and micro-businesses use the Internet safely, including
advice regarding Internet scams of this nature.