IN THE past they have used fictitious relatives of deposed African politicians, and promises of hidden millions, to con people out of their money.

Now the e-mail thieves have hijacked the identity of an East Lancashire MP in their latest attempt to rip people off.

And Hyndburn MP Greg Pope is furious at the attempt to con people out of cash using his name.

The cons ask people to provide their bank details so money can be transferred into their account to prevent it getting into the hands of criminals.

But those behind the e-mails respond to replies by taking money out of unsuspecting victims' accounts.

The latest con uses the Hyndburn Labour backbencher's name, claiming that he is chairman of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee.

He is actually a member of the all-party group, chaired by veteran Welsh Labour MP Donald Anderson.

Mr Pope said: "I was quite surprised to get an e-mail from someone purporting to be me. Several other people have also received the false claim and forwarded it to me.

"I am very concerned that my name, and those of both the Foreign Affairs Committee and the House of Commons, are being misused in this way by foreign criminals.

"I hope that no-one is conned into parting with money, or personal details, by this.

"In the meantime, I am raising this as a matter of urgency with the Commons authorities to see if we can put a stop to it.

"Although there is no demand for money in this initial e-mail, these type of scams normally end up with a request for cash, or an attempt to use the information provided to access people or businesses bank accounts criminally.

"The e-mail appears to originate from Africa, where the majority of such scams have been based."

Lancashire Trading Standards said: "In the past we have dealt with e-mails claiming to be from officials at foreign banks such as Nigeria or China, but this is the first I'm aware of actually adopting the identity and pretending to be an MP.

"We advise anyone receiving such e-mails not to respond either by e-mail or by telephone and, if people are sill concerned, contact Lancashire Trading Standards."