According to a blog item from Paul O Baccas, a security specialist with Sophos, the scam email - purportedly from a BBC UK domain - claims to be looking for distant relative of people who have died without making a will.

Cross-referencing a news item on the BBC news website, the email says "we came across your email while searching and we will be glad if you can get back to us with your full name, date of birth, address and your direct (phone) number."

"If it corresponds with the one on our database in order to enable us carry out necessary process and to get your claim across to you without any delay."

According to Baccas, a few things in the above email suggested to him "that the email was fake even before I looked at the headers".

Firstly that the BBC categorises the Heir Hunters programme as factual, life stories or money, rather than news.

"The capitalisation of BBC is BBC not BBc." and "why would the email address for a UK based programme be in Hong Kong?"

The links used in the scam email, were however, genuine, he noted.