To intercept a message you have to tap the phone line, a cumbersome process even for dictators lacking a sense of humour.

But the criminal will intercept their messages and then convince them to send the payment to a different bank account.

Western intelligence has often gained valuable information by concealing news of an arrest and intercepting the messages being sent by subordinates believing the target still to be at liberty.

It was as if the actual player had intercepted the message and was being invited indirectly to play the game.