Kia Motors (UK) has issued a warning that “unscrupulous individuals” are perpetrating an e-mail scam hiding behind the brand.

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E-mail recipients (which have included just-auto, which forwarded them to the automaker) are being advised that they have won a major prize in an e-mail lottery and are invited to provide various personal details including bank details so that prize money of up to GBP750,000 and a free car can be awarded to them. The contact details include the name The Kia Company and e-mail and telephone numbers in the UK.


Kia communications director Stephen Kitson said: “We have never run an e-mail lottery, we are not running an e-mail lottery and we are unlikely ever to run an e-mail lottery. This is a despicable scam being carried out on unwitting members of the public by thieves, pure and simple.


“It is clear from the language used in the e-mails that although the contact details suggest they are based in the UK that may not be the case. We are currently working with various authorities to try and trace these people and to stop this scam, but members of the public receiving these e-mails should be aware of this practice and should not provide any personal details under any circumstances,” he added.


Kitson added that the company had been the subject of previous scams with e-mails originating in various countries overseas and offering huge prizes – those e-mail scams had been investigated and closed down with the help of Kia operations in those countries.

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He added: “It is clear that as the Kia name is becoming better known around the world conmen and criminals are trying to jump on the bandwagon for unlawful purposes. We urge anyone receiving one of these e-mails to pass it to their local police.”