Branson targeted in US$5m scam

London

RICHARD Branson, billionaire founder of the Virgin group, has revealed that he was targeted by a fraudster posing as Britain's defence minister who tried to get him to contribute US$5 million to a supposed secret ransom payment.

Appealing for information to help identify the conman, Mr Branson said he suspected the same person had later impersonated him to steal US$2 million from a friend of his by pretending to raise funds for people affected by Hurricane Irma.