Internet Thieves Attack Reuben Abati, Frontline Journalist

Internet thieves last week broke into the email account of Dr. Reuben Abati, one of Nigeria’s most respected journalists and chairman, editorial board of The Guardian and solicited for financial assistance to take care of a so-called emergency situation.
The attack on Abati indicated the growing twist in internet scam, which has left victims with losses and tears.
The unarmed but lethal criminals after breaking into Abati’s email account claimed that the journalist was out of the country and that the family was in dire need of some money to take care of some emergency.
The mail sent out of Abati’s mailbox read:
 “Hello,
This is an emergency, I seriously consider you to help me with the sum of 250,000
Naira which I will pay immediately I get back. I am in a Conference in India; I will be back on the 15th of January 2009. My Daughter is seriously in need of medical attention after she was involved in an accident in Lagos, she  is now in a private hospital waiting for medical solution and she has been asked to make payment - the same above amount before further medical treatment will be continued. I don't want to lose her. Hope to hear positive news from you. I don't want others to know about this, do keep it to yourself, all I need at the moment is N250,000 as a loan for her medical deposit so that the doctor can save her life, I cannot send money from where I am now. I am very confused and desperate and I don't seem to understand why this thing is happening to me. I promise to refund you your money immediately I get back home .Please kindly contact the doctor via email [email protected]  or call 070411505005 to know who and where to send the money. I am trusting you that you will do the needful immediately.
Regards
Mr. Reuben Abati”
But Abati said that mail is a white bag of lies woven by the criminals to defraud unsuspecting victims.
He advised friends and associates to disregard the mail adding that it was not from him and that he is in Lagos, not India as alleged.
Abati said that there was nothing wrong with him or any member of his family.
The journalist born November 7, 1965 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, has won a number of awards and is a highly sought after speaker in many national and international conferences.