Here at Electric Towers all we know are the facts -- just the facts -- and we know for a fact that the typical modus operandi of a spammer includes the use of bad English, as can be seen in the highlighted portions above.

"99.999 percent of spam is not targeted," said Conor Flynn, technical director with IT security firm RITS. "Typically spam e-mails use bad English and bad spelling." Flynn advises anyone who receives a threatening e-mail like this which gives them genuine concern should call the Gardai, but in general, they should not be too worried.

This is the latest in a string of more sinister attacks from spammers. "We came across one where the spam said it had deposited child pornography on the recipient's computer and that they would notify the authorities unless they were paid off," Flynn said.

"There are organised crime forces that recognise the value to be gained from spam. They have robots generating billions of spam each day. They are working off tiny multiples and only need 0.001 percent of e-mails to be acted on for them to benefit."

With an interesting approach to the evidential process, a spokeswoman at the Garda press office told ENN that anyone who receives such an e-mail should "delete it -- fast --do not even open it." She advised that any unsolicited e-mails received should be deleted.

The full text of the e-mail is available at the Sophos e-security website.