Police warn of holiday illness fraud

Penistone police are warning about an email scam in the area. Crooks are sending messages saying a relative is in hospital abroad and asking for money for medical costs.

A variation says the relative is in jail and money is needed to free them. But PC Mark Silcock, of the Penistone Safer Neighbourhood Scheme, says the only winners are the crooks.

He advises people getting such an email to contact the British Consul in the country in question.

The scam follows earlier frauds which are still appearing and still concerning police. These involve requests for bank details to help someone who needs a European account to access huge sums of money.