New Delhi:
Concerned over misuse of Finance Ministry's name by unscrupulous elements, the government has cautioned the public against falling prey to bogus e-mails that promise huge prize money on payment of security deposits.
"The general public is hereby advised not to take cognisance of any such letter or e-mail received from unscrupulous persons claiming to have backing of the Ministry of Finance or any of its officers," the Finance Ministry said in a statement.
The statement said it has come to the notice of the ministry that some unscrupulous persons are sending e-mail messages to Internet users asking them to deposit facilitation money of Rs 38,892 in order to obtain the prize money of US $4,91,000 from the Canadian Coco-Cola company.
These persons are fraudulently using the name of Finance Minister and the ministry officials, it added.
The statement further clarified that no officer of any of the departments in the ministry has been authorised to sign letters either on behalf of the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance or any of the organisations in the Ministry for certifying receipt of demand drafts and cheques in this case.