PANAMA’S BANK ING SUPERINTENDCY has issued an alert after detecting a series of e-mails where the identity of the secretary general of the regulator is being used and requesting money to complete a so-called transfer.

"The Superintendent has knowledge about the circulation of a fraudulent e-mail, using a copy of the domainsuperbancos@superbancos.gob.pa," said the message It said the e-mail directed the recipients to transfer of funds to an account to receive a tax-release certificate.

The fraudulent note added that if the funds are not deposited, the account would be "confiscated" by the International Monetary Fund reports La Prensa.

The Superintendency said the e-mail is completely false and that it does not correspond at all with the powers of the agency.

The Superintendency said that the case is being investigated.