A HOAX e-mail sent to undergraduates at the UCLa, has prompted a student newspaper to run an article warning readers to be on their guard should they go to Australia.

The electronic letter describes an elaborate body-part theft operation which, it claims, is plaguing the Antipodean country.

It appears to be sent by medical staff in Australia, and even names a Sydney hospital, gives a 'phone number and the name of an official supposedly dealing the problem.

So convincing is the document that the UCLa's newspaper, Pluto, ran a serious warning urging youths going Down Under to be on their guard.

The e-mail has terrified many student recipients, who only gained access to e-mail when they went at university. It is clearly targeted at undergraduates, who, it alleges, are being duped into attending parties organised by a kind of medical Mafia.

Once at the party, it claims they are drugged and their kidneys are surgically removed while they are unconscious. They are then placed in a bath of ice and wake up to find a message to call paramedics who, according to the piece, immediately recognise the symptoms of kidney kidnap.

Apparently, a kidney sells for £5,000 on the Ozzie black market.

A 'phone number is given, urging any worried callers to ring the Sydney hospital.

After hearing from several students who had received similar e-mails, the Citizen contacted the hospital. A spokesman said: "Over the past two years we have been contacted by hundreds of people from around the globe who have received this e-mail. They all ask for Michele Shafer, who doesn't exist.

"It is a vicious hoax, which we thought had died down. Unfortunately, it seems to have been targeted at Preston this time."

One student, who said she originally believed the e-mail to be genuine, said: "I can't believe someone would do this.

"I have friends out there and it really frightened me. I think it is horrible."

Some of the university's courses involve spending time in Australia, and travel agents say it is a popular choice for sun-seeking students.

Billy Lo, the Students Union president, condemned the hoax. He said: "We have been alerted to this e-mail and believe it to be a hoax. Anyone who gets one should ignore it."

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