Govt cautions public against bogus prize money e-mails

New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) Concerned over misuse of FinanceMinistry''s name by unscrupulous elements, the government todaycautioned the public against falling prey to bogus e-mailsthat promise huge prize money on payment of security deposits.

"The general public is hereby advised not to takecognisance of any such letter or e-mail received fromunscrupulous persons claiming to have backing of the Ministryof Finance or any of its officers," the Finance Ministry saidin a statement.

The statement said it has come to the notice of theministry that some unscrupulous persons are sending e-mailmessages to Internet users asking them to deposit facilitationmoney of Rs 38,892 in order to obtain the prize money of USD4,91,000 from the Canadian Coco-Cola company.

These persons are fraudulently using the name of FinanceMinister and the ministry officials, it added.

The statement further clarified that no officer of any ofthe departments in the ministry has been authorised to signletters either on behalf of the Department of Revenue,Ministryof Finance or any of the organisations in the Ministry forcertifying receipt of demand drafts and cheques in this case.