A COUNCILLOR is warning the people of Rossendale to protect themselves from identity theft after his email account was hacked.

Whitworth councillor Alan Neal had to reassure his 550 email contacts after someone broke into his account and sent out an email asking for money.

The hacker, who pretended to be Alan, claimed the councillor had taken an impromptu holiday to Barcelona, had lost his wallet on a sight-seeing trip and was being held hostage by the hotel management because he could not pay the bill.

Alan said: “The first thing I knew about it was when I got home from work and my daughter had contacted my wife to say someone had accessed my account.

“I can’t believe the hacker asked for 800 Euros.

"I just hope that no one was silly enough to send them anything.

"If I recieved an email like this I wouldn’t send them eight pence never mind 800.

“I am just lucky I don’t do online banking and for this very reason I never will."

The Lancashire Telegraph was one of the 550 contacts to receive the hacker’s request for money.

After replying to find out whether the request was geniune, the hacker replied: “I am much more confused right now.

"Presently I'm in Barcelona, Spain. I will explain things to you when I return.

"I need to leave this place as soon as possible because I don't feel safe here without money.

"I really need you to lend me the money. I promise to pay back as soon as I return.”

In 2009, hackers sent an email claiming to be from Blackburn MP Jack Straw, saying he had lost his wallet while on charity work in Africa and asking for 3,500 US dollars to get home.