We know you’ve all hear about these tricks usually to try to diddle us out of money or get information about us or people in our Contacts lists.
It’s almost always the same thing – trying to get you to click on an attachment to an e-mail that will either lead you to revealing information to someone different from whom you supposed or, without further action on your part, do unpleasant things to your computer either overtly or covertly causing at least hassle, but more likely loss.
You’re not going to get caught are you … but so many otherwise savvy people are fooled by clever text and recognisable logos and do just that … so you’ll probably not be surprised by this notice from the Thames Valley Police BCRC about yet more attacks but note how it operates in just the same way … by suckering you into clicking that attachment.
The Business Crime Reduction Centre (BCRC) is warning people about a new email scam that threatens victims with court action.
Fraudsters have been sending out legitimate looking spoofed emails designed to trick recipients into installing malware.
The emails say you have been notified and scheduled to appear for a court hearing, and contains specific dates, times, locations and reference numbers.
It asks you to download a copy of the “court notice” attached. The downloadable.zip file actually contains an .exe file (a file that executes when clicked) containing a virus.
The email has no connection to the Criminal Justice System and anyone receiving the email should not download any attachments or click any links and report it to us by using our online fraud reporting tool.
Subject headers change frequently
You are likely to see some variations of this email, as it is easy for fraudsters to amend the details and continue targeting people. BCRC’s cyber-security specialist said “the email is difficult to block as the subject headers change frequently.”
He also said: “Provoking a panicked, impulse reaction has become a very common scam technique for cyber criminals. Opening the attachment allows the criminal to spy on the victim, use their computer to commit crime, or steal personal and financial information.
For further information please visit the BCRC website.
To report a fraud and receive a police crime reference number, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or use our online fraud reporting tool