A PENSIONER told today how hi-tech criminals tried to steal money from her friends by taking over her identity.

Susann Palmer, 85, from Portland, was shocked to learn fraudsters had accessed her email account and sent SOS messages claiming she was trapped in the Philippines and needed cash urgently.

Luckily all of Mrs Palmer’s contacts smelled a rat and did not fall for the scam.

Author and lecturer Mrs Palmer is well-known locally through her role as founder and director of the Association for Portland Archae-ology.

Mrs Palmer, of Weston, said she only learned of the fraud when her friends telephoned her expressing concern.

The message sent out to contacts from her Yahoo email account is written in broken English. It says she is in Malolos and misplaced her wallet. The recipient is asked for a loan of almost $3,000.

Mrs Palmer, who has reported the matter to Dorset Police, said: “The whole thing has been alarming and distressing. I’ve had calls from friends around the world asking if I’m alright.

“It’s frightening to know that someone has got into my account.

“My friends knew I couldn’t have sent it but it has been a hassle sorting this out. I’ve had to shut my account down.”

The rogue message was sent just as Mrs Palmer was about to get a new computer.

Mrs Palmer is well-travelled and has led archaeological trips around the world. But she said: “I have no intention of going to the Philippines.

“If I did lose money abroad I wouldn’t email my friends asking for a loan.”

Among the people to receive the email was the Portland historian Stuart Morris, who knew it could not have been sent from Mrs Palmer.

Mr Morris said: “The tone wasn’t right and although I’m aware she travels I knew she wasn’t in the Philippines.

“I have seen a report she wrote recently about a medieval site at Weston. It’s mind-boggling stuff. Susann is very articulate and if you knew her you’d realise that email couldn’t have been written by her.”

Mr Morris said: “The trouble is one per cent of people who get these emails think they’re genuine.

“Fortunately in this case everyone has been wise to it but I know that Susann has been left quite distressed.”

Dorset County Council Trading Standards manager Paul Carter said: “This is something quite different to the scams we’ve heard about. If you get emails from people you know asking for money make inquiries to see if they’re genuine.”