Fri Dec 27 03:32:07 UTC 2024: ## Hyderabad Journalist Targeted in New Email Scam Involving Fake Court Order
**Hyderabad, India – December 27, 2024** – A sophisticated email scam targeting Hyderabad residents has emerged, with fraudsters using fake court orders to extort money. The latest victim, a journalist, received an email purportedly from the “Cyber Security Agency of Saudi Arabia,” accusing them of accessing child pornography websites. The email threatened legal action unless a response was provided within 24 hours.
The fraudulent email, sent from a fake address (‘police.intelligence.office@nicwebmail.info’) and bearing a fabricated reference number, mimicked official language and even included a fabricated Colonel’s name. Investigations revealed the email’s IP address originated from Berlin, Germany, and was recently created.
This scam builds on existing impersonation tactics where fraudsters pose as government officials to coerce victims into paying to avoid fabricated charges. Telangana police have reported over ₹50 lakh in losses due to similar impersonation and social media scams in 2024.
Officials from the Telangana Cybercrime police and the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) have warned citizens not to respond to such emails, urging them to block and report any suspicious communications. The TGCSB confirmed the email address and court order are fake. The police emphasized the growing trend of fraudsters exploiting various communication methods – phone calls, video calls, and now email – to deceive victims. This incident follows a similar scam earlier this year involving a fake letter from the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre.
First Piper 