Rankin’s thriller in Manila is work of pure fiction

Rebus writer Ian Rankin has revealed he has been targeted by e-mail scammers who sent out a bogus appeal for money.

Friends of the Edinburgh author received messages claiming that he needed money as he had been left stranded in Manila in the Phillipines with no cash.

The e-mail then claimed he had been robbed by bandits who stole his credit cards and mobile phone and urged his contacts to send him money to get home straight away.

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However, Fife-born Rankin was in fact at his home in Edinburgh working on his new novel and warned people against the con. He tweeted: “If anyone gets an e-mail from Ian Rankin (address: a farm in Fife) asking for emergency cash due to a holiday robbery, do ignore. #scam.”

He jokingly added: “I’m going to feel really bad now if Fife farmer Mr Rankin really is stuck penniless in Manila.”

Several Scots, including councillors and charity workers from the Capital, have been targeted by the same scam in recent months.

Peace campaigner Janet Fenton, 64, was targeted last year, when e-mails were sent to more than 1000 of her contacts – including leading politicians – saying she was stuck in Spain having been robbed.