Shocked friends of Ashford Asian Society leader Shafi Khan were disturbed to receive a dramatic email indicating he was in serious trouble in Africa.

It told how he was on a programme to empower youth to fight racism, HIV/AIDS, poverty and lack of education in Ghana, South Africa and Nigeria but was stranded and in desperate need of cash.

It claimed he had left his small bag with his money, passport, documents and other valuable in a taxi en-route to his hotel after he arrived in Nigeria.

Left penniless, the hotel was demanding payment, threatening to sieze his suitcase and report him to the authorities.

It said: “I have been starving with no money to feed myself and need £2,300 to sort out my problems here which I promise to pay back as soon as I return home”.

It also gave details of where money could be transferred to - which all turned out to be an elaborate scam.

Checks revealed that he was at home in Kennington safe and well and horrified that his email had been hacked into by unknown frausters.

He said: “I have not been away at all and indeed have not left Ashford for many years.

“My wife and family have been most concerned and I have been inundated with calls as this false appeal seems to have gone to everyone on my email address list.

“I will be writing to warn them and just hope that nobody has dispatched any money”.