City firm Travers Smith has placed a warning on its Web site after bogus e-mails purporting to be from the firm have been sent around the world as part of a Nigerian '419' scam.

Charles Russell's name has also been used in a similar scam, and it is understood that other City firms have also been targeted.


The e-mails claim to be from Travers Smith or other firms, often using the name of a current or former employee. The e-mails inform recipients that they have inherited a substantial sum of money - one e-mail cites the sum of $3.1 million (£1.7 million).


They then and go on to ask the recipients for personal details, which are used to clear out bank accounts, or money, which is then stolen.


The police believe the messages are linked to organised crime.


Travers Smith partner Stephen Paget-Brown said the scam had first come to the firm's attention more than a year ago, and it is still being contacted by recipients of the e-mails more or less daily.


It has been very active in getting the e-mail accounts from which the messages originate closed down, but new accounts are set up to replace them almost immediately.


Mr Paget-Brown said: 'It is an absolute nuisance... We know they have suckered people into communicating with them, although we do not know if anyone has parted with any money. We are hoping that the notice will help to inform people, and might deter the fraudsters from carrying on using our name.'


He said police had told the firm it would be difficult for them to act because no victim has come forward to say they have lost money.


A Charles Russell spokeswoman said the firm had become aware of the e-mails in November 2004, and was still receiving the occasional inquiry about them.