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File 030351

Prank Email Exchange: Jes Staley Imposter Message from John McFarlane Gmail Account (File 030351)

A Financial Times article documenting a sophisticated email prank where an imposter used a fake Gmail account impersonating Barclays chairman John McFarlane to contact CEO Jes Staley following a contentious shareholders' meeting in May 2017.

Summary

On May 10, 2017, Jes Staley, CEO of Barclays, received what he believed were supportive emails from chairman John McFarlane following a bruising shareholders' meeting where he faced calls to resign. The emails were actually sent by a prankster using the spoofed Gmail address john.mcfarlane.barclays@gmail.com. Staley responded effusively with praise and gratitude. The imposter concluded the exchange with a poem where the first letters of each line spelled out 'Whistleblower,' referencing Staley's controversial attempt to unmask a company whistleblower. The prankster later told the Financial Times the emails were part of his 'battle with Barclays' over a customer issue.

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