The attention of the citizens is drawn by Cyber Crime following the growing number of recent complaints of cybercrime.
Αat this time, perpetrators taking advantage of citizens' concerns about the coronavirus (COVID – 19), attempt to obtain illicit financial gain.
As it is pointed out, apart from citizens' complaints, relevant information to the Greek authorities has been made by Interpol and Europol.
In particular, the perpetrators try to deceive their victims with the following methodologies - ways of action:
- Scam websites, e-commerce platforms, etc., that market high-demand products (masks, gloves, antiseptics, etc.)
The perpetrators are taking advantage of the increased demand for masks, gloves, antiseptics, etc. materials and create deceptive websites, e-commerce platforms, social media accounts or even e-mail addresses, pretending to sell specific items, and in some cases use the names of well-known companies operating in this area, in order to become convincing.
Interested buyers are then asked to prepay orders by bank transfer, usually abroad, but the alleged orders are never delivered and the perpetrators cut off all communication, while fraudulent websites or platforms are shut down. - Phishing scams:
The perpetrators send fraudulent e-mails, ostensibly from national or global health authorities, and contain either links or attachments, with supposedly useful information to protect against the spread of the virus.
In this way they try to either steal users 'credentials (email accounts, social networking applications, electronic banking, etc.) or install malware on the recipients' computer system and extract sensitive information.
- Telephone fraud under the pretext of coronavirus infection of relatives (COVID-19):
The perpetrators call unsuspecting citizens, usually the elderly and pretending to be relatives, to report that they are being treated in hospitals or clinics because they have been infected with the virus. To make it more convincing, the perpetrators also make additional calls, pretending to be doctors or directors of hospitals or clinics, to confirm the treatment.
In this way, the perpetrators try to persuade their victims to pay the cost of health care by remittance or by delivering cash to people who pretend to be representatives of the alleged clinic and appear in their home.
In addition, the Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate has received complaints about fake news, which are published and reproduced on the Internet, which relate either to current events on the coronavirus issue or to proposed treatments, products and preparations for its treatment. which do not correspond to reality and in each case relevant files are formed.
In this context, the Cybercrime Directorate informs citizens:
- Do not open suspicious links or suspicious attachments that you receive by email.
- Upgrade and update the security software.
- Make purchases only from reputable online retailers and check their customer reviews.
- Do not respond to suspicious messages or calls.
- Be especially careful when you find products on the internet for sale that seem to be out of stock.
- If the quote seems too good to be true, keep in mind that it is probably not real.
- Keep up to date with authoritative and official sources and do not share news and publications that do not come from trusted sources.
- Do not donate to charities without checking their authenticity and credibility.
- Contact the relevant police authorities when you realize that you have been the victim of fraud.
Information and visual material (infographics and videos) has been posted on the accounts of the Cybercrime Directorate at Facebook and Twitter , as well as on the Europol and Interpol pages at the following links.
❗️ You will not find a cure for COVID-19 on the internet # COVID19 #Europol # EC3
Posted by CYBER ALERT on Thursday, 26. March 2020
Citizens are requested, in all cases, to contact the Cybercrime Directorate or to provide information or report illegal or inaccurate acts or activities carried out online at the following contact details:
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Sending e-mail to: ccu@cybercrimeunit.gov.gr
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Through the web portal (portal) of the Hellenic Police ( https://portal.astynomia.gr )
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Through the application for smart phones: CYBERKID
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Through twitter: @CyberAlertGR
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By phone: 11188
Press release - Source 1 - Source 2
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