Fake emails are circulating on the internet, attracting attention with their ominous subject "Legal Proceedings". As if from the shadows, the scammers behind this scheme pose as employees of key institutions - the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and Europol. They do not hesitate to use the official logos of these organizations, the distinctive mark of the police, and even the signature of a former director of the General Directorate "National Police" (GDNP), the MoI announced on its official Facebook page. This is a worrying sign of the increasing complexity and ingenuity of cybercrime.
The text of the fraudulent emails is carefully crafted to cause fear and panic. Recipients are notified that they have been charged with serious cybercrimes, including pedophilia and child pornography. With this shocking information, the scammers aim to extort victims for a large sum of money.
Victims are forced to pay a fine of 8,500 euros to have the "case terminated" and sensitive information deleted. This is a direct attempt to extract financial gain through threats and manipulation. If the victim does not agree to cooperate, the scammers threaten severe consequences - imprisonment and a fine of up to 420 thousand euros. To reinforce the psychological impact, they add a threat that the case will be made public "as a lesson". This is a brutal tactic aimed at breaking the victim's will and forcing them to comply with the requirements.
BTA Agency reminds that this is not the first case of abuse of the names of law enforcement agencies. In the summer, the General Directorate "Combating Organized Crime" warned of a financial scam, in which the name of the service is also misused. The scammers mislead people by phone, claiming that they are helping to prevent a crime and an attempt to drain their bank accounts. In this case, the goal was to take out a loan or transfer money to the scammers. These cases highlight the need for increased attention and vigilance on the part of the public.