Threatening messages by e-mail, apparently official signatures and law enforcement logos: this is the “formula” that one of the latest online scams that are raging on the web could be credible to a clearing eye. State policescammers send False official communications talking about alleged investigations in progress for access to prohibited content online. Those who receive these communications are invited to open an attachment and respond urgently, often under the pressure of possible legal repercussions. But it is a well -deduced deception to steal personal data and, in the worst cases, empty the current account of the victims. To defend themselves from similar scams, you don’t have to open attachment files or link Content in suspicious messages, remembering that law enforcement do not send communications of this type by e-mail.
How the police fake email scam works
The reports have increased in recent weeks and concern e-mails that, at first glance, seem to have an official origin. In many cases the message is signed by phantom departments, such as the “national police”, and accuses the recipient of having visited sites forbidden by Italian law. Communication states that the surveillance system would have recorded illegal behavior, and threatens criminal consequences if the recipient does not respond promptly.
This fraud technique falls within the so -called phishing, an English term that indicates the attempt to get rid of confidential information by breaking as a reliable entities. In the specific case, the alleged authenticity of the message is strengthened byUse of institutional logos (like that of the State Police) and by a formal but pressing tonewhich pushes the recipient to act quickly. E-mail can contain phrases like «Legal actions will be launched against him” or “We will be grateful if he wanted to answer as soon as possible “generating in potential victims a psychological pressure such as to increase the probability of success of the scam.
By opening the attachment – a Word, PDF document or a Zip file – you risk installing a malware, that is, a harmful software designed to subtract personal information, including passwords, bank credentials and other sensitive data. In some cases, the scammers invite the victim to respond by e-mail: once the contact has been established, further requests start, such as the payment of an alleged fine for the alleged offense perpetrated by the citizens that the criminals have contacted or sending personal documents. It is an escalation designed to obtain the maximum economic advantage, exploiting the sense of guilt or the Fear of ending up in trouble with justice.
How to defend yourself from the fake e-mails from the police
The Postal Police has repeatedly clarified that does not use emails to notify investigations or convocations And, of course, does not attach documents to download. The real official communications take place through formal and well -recognizable channels, such as recommended or notifications through bailiffs. For this reason, if you receive an e-mail similar to those we talked about in previous lines, ignore the message, Don’t click on any link and above all Do not open the attachments possibly contained in the e-mail. If you have received suspicious messages from the police or any other body and therefore suspect that it is a scam, do not forget to report the incident to the postal police (the real one), through this page of its official website.
