Hoax Email Alert

December 7, 2010
Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.

SMM has recently became aware of hoax emails being circulated to Australian and North American mining companies from someone purporting to be acting on behalf of or with the support of SMM.

SMM has a long business history and, as well as being engaged in mining activities world-wide, is the owner of the Hishikari Gold Mine, which boasts the world's highest grade gold ore. Like other companies, SMM is susceptible to false representations by individuals acting without SMM's knowledge or approval.

The recent hoax emails have been of similar content, are quite elaborate and several pages in length. The authors of the hoax emails purport to be acting under instructions of "Sumitomo's senior executives" in trying to orchestrate some sort of merger arrangement between SMM's Hishikari gold mine and operations owned by the recipient mining company. In addition, the recent hoax emails:

• promise to introduce the recipient to "Sumitomo's and Hishikari's senior management"
• purport to provide information on SMM's Hishikari gold mine
• indicate that the authors will provide a "200 page confidential report" if the recipient of the email indicates that they are interested in the Project described in the email
• request the recipient to keep the details of the email confidential
• contain information on the mining company to whom the emails have been sent.

These emails are not in any way authorized by SMM and SMM has no knowledge of the identity of the authors of the emails or the organizations to which they may belong.

Although the recent hoax emails have been of similar content, it may be that there will be other hoax emails sent by individuals purporting to act on behalf of or under the authority of SMM.

If you are concerned that you have received a hoax email or emails purporting to relate to SMM or its projects please email SMM at Hoax_Warning@ni.smm.co.jp.