Fraudsters used the details of a businesswoman while she was on holiday to send an email supporting the development of Kensal Rise Library.
Kirsty Slattery of Graceland Yards in Liddell Gardens, Kensal Rise, was shocked to discover her name and address had been used while she was away with her family.
She said: “I went away for three weeks with my family and when I returned I had received a letter from the council about the library saying I had 21 days to response but by this time I had missed the deadline.
“I tried clicking on the link to say I was against the plans but it was too late.”
Tonight the council’s planning committee will decide on whether the axe branch in Bathurst Gardens, can be converted into flats with a community hub within the building.
Yesterday they published a report in which it stated a ‘high proportion’ of emails supporting the plans were fake.
An investigation has been launched after 70 emails which claimed to have supported the bounced back when council officers send correspondence to them.
In addition, three ‘supporters’ informed the council they had not sent an email backing the plans from their address, and written letters of support had been received addressed from 95 High Road which is the site of Willesden Library and correspondence addressed from Kensal Rise Library itself.
Ms Slattery said she had no idea she had become a victim of the ‘fake email’ scam until she was confronted by a client.
“I was asked why I was supporting the development and was shown the link,” she said.
“It’s really upsetting because Gracelands provides something for the community of which I am a part and I would never support the plans.
“I used the library and so did my children and I want it to remain as a library.
“I categorically do not support the development, I support my community and not the library being turned into flats.”
Ms Slattery has informed the council and is waiting for a response.
Cllr Roxanne Mashari, Brent Council’s lead member for environment and neighbourhoods, told the Times the legal department were looking into the claims.
She added: “I have been assured that the planning committee will be fully informed about the falsified comments.”
The application has been recommended for refusal by Brent Council.
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