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Top politician falls victim to email hackers

A leading politician in India has become the latest high-profile victim of online fraud after he was successfully targeted by a hacker, it has been reported.

Mani Shankar Aiyar, who serves as a cabinet minister, was hit by fraudsters earlier this week, with the hackers managing to access his personal Hotmail email account.

Once in, the criminals were then able to send out an email asking for $3,500 to all of the names in his address book, claiming that the Indian National Congress party member's wallet had been stolen and that he therefore needed cash to settle his bills and return home.

According to the Indian Express, the fraudulent email read: "I am sorry that I didn't inform you about my travelling to England for a seminar. I need a favour from you as soon as you receive this e-mail because I misplaced my wallet on my way to the hotel where my money is and other valuable things were kept, I will like you to assist me with a loan urgently."

Just last month, British TV personality Jonathan Ross mistakenly sent out his private email address on the social networking site Twitter, thereby inadvertantly putting his online privacy under threat.

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