Internet users warned off religious scam

Police have warned people not to be influenced by an internet scam which plays heavily on references to Christianity.

A woman in South Africa calling herself Judith Williams has sent out email messages praising God and saying she is dying of cancer.

She said she also had a stroke but has $4 million of her late husband's money to give to someone who will spend it on "orphans and widows propagating the word of God".

Her husband's relatives would not get any because they were not Christians and she did not want the money used in an "ungodly manner", she said.

She urged people to email their details to her so the European security company holding the funds could deposit them in a nominated bank account.

Fraud squad police in Auckland said today it was another scam which people should steer well clear of.

Detective Sergeant Richard Kapa said any scheme seeking bank account details should be avoided.

However, he said greed and the desire to "make a quick buck" often influenced people into making silly decisions which often cost them thousands of dollars.

- NZPA