Company gets involved in e-mail hoax

Construction company Emmanuel Vella and Sons Ltd has unwittingly become involved in what appears to be an e-mail hoax.

The e-mail is being forwarded by Maltese subscribers, who are being told that internet network AOL are giving five cents each time the e-mail is forwarded, to Krista-Marie, whose daughter Natalie has brain cancer.

The e-mail, which seems to have originated in the US, is not signed and no details of Krista-Marie are given.

Unfortunately, somewhere along the line, it must recently have been forwarded by a well-meaning employee at E. Vella and Sons, as a result of which the company's details were added to the bottom of the e-mail, making it appear as though Krista-Marie is involved with the company.

Company spokesman Jonathan Vella assured those receiving the e-mail there was no one of that name at the company and that the company has nothing to do with the e-mail.