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File 030389

Email Prank Targeting Jes Staley at Barclays (File 030389)

A chronicle of a Gmail-based prank where an imposter used a fake John McFarlane email account to correspond with Barclays CEO Jes Staley following a contentious shareholders' meeting, with the prankster subsequently disclosing the exchange to the Financial Times.

Summary

On May 10, 2017, a prankster impersonated Barclays Chairman John McFarlane using a spoofed Gmail account to send emails to CEO Jes Staley following a shareholders' meeting where criticism of Staley arose. The prankster praised Staley's handling of shareholder opposition and included flattering messages referencing music and leadership qualities. Staley, believing he was communicating with McFarlane, responded with effusive gratitude and support. The exchange concluded with the prankster sending a poem with acrostic spelling 'Whistleblower.' The prankster later contacted the Financial Times to reveal the prank as part of a personal dispute with Barclays over a customer issue.

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