Billionaire Branson Targeted in $5 Million Scam ‘Straight out of Le Carre’

Billionaire Branson Targeted in $5 Million Scam ‘Straight out of Le Carre’
Sir Richard Branson speaks as he launches Virgin Australia's inaugural Melbourne to Hong flights on July 5, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. Scott Barbour/Getty Images
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LONDON—Richard Branson, billionaire founder of the Virgin group, has revealed he was targeted by a fraudster posing as Britain’s defense minister who tried to get him to contribute $5 million to a supposed secret ransom payment.

Appealing for information to help identify the conman, Branson said he suspected the same person had later impersonated him to steal $2 million from a friend of his by pretending to raise funds for people affected by Hurricane Irma.