Unfortunately, it seems clubs across the country have started to become targeted with a very believable email scam. Clubs have actioned the email due to its honest seeming nature and as a consequence have lost considerable amounts of money. This has now hit Gloucestershire and very sadly a club has paid out, and therefore lost, over £3k due to this scam. Clubs in Lancashire were targeted in the same way back in June 2017.

It seems that an email is sent from the Chairman (or other senior Officer) of the club to the Treasurer requesting them to set up a payment – the correct email addresses are shown and the appropriate names of Officers are used. A couple of days later the Treasurer receives a second email asking for the balance to be settled. The beneficiary in Gloucestershire’s case was a sports equipment company called Morrant Group Ltd. and the Chairman had not sent any such email to the treasurer.

Please can all clubs to be more diligent if you receive such a request from an officer in your club. If you receive a message of this type, or of a similar nature that purports to be from a club, league or board official, check that the email address from which it originates is the one by which you 'know' them. If you have any doubts about the authenticity of the message then contact them direct by phone to make sure that it is a genuine request before making any payment.

Please contact the DCB office if any clubs in Devon have received such communications on 01392 262509 or email info@devoncricket.co.uk