IT contractors should be aware that the latest email scams are very professionally constructed and co-ordinated, it has been claimed.

Constructing a basic spoof email and making it appear as though it is from a legitimate source is now "child's play", according to Rik Ferguson, senior security advisor at IT security firm Trend Micro.

For those who are not particularly technologically-aware, spotting a fraudulent mail can be quite difficult, Mr Ferguson said, so firms must ensure that proper staff training processes are incorporated.

He added: "What even the most experienced people are tempted to do, because they think they know better, is to click the link.

"People are not sufficiently aware that just clicking a link, just visiting a website is enough to get you infected."

According to the Office of Fair Trading, 73 per cent of adults have received a scam email in the past year, according to the research.