Athens, 18 August 2014
PRESS RELEASE
The Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate informs citizens about the sending of fraudulent e-mails regarding the alleged granting of loans to a large number of internet users
The perpetrators of these messages promise recipients, supposedly immediately and easily, loans, even large sums of money, with low interest rates and quick financing
The messages are intended to persuade, in a deceptive manner ("phishing"), willing and unsuspecting citizens seeking money or a loan, to send sensitive personal data and sums of money.
The Hellenic Police's Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate, as part of its preventive action to avoid defrauding citizens, informs internet users that in recent days there has been an increase in the sending of fraudulent e-mails to a large number of internet users.
With these messages, unknown perpetrators attempt to deceive recipients in order to extract sensitive personal data and sums of money.
In particular, the perpetrators, through the above e-mail messages, promise internet users, allegedly, directly and easily, the granting of loans, even large sums of money, with a low interest rate and quick financing procedures.
In fact, in these messages, as contact information provided, there is only an email address, while the address of their alleged physical headquarters, mobile or landline telephone numbers, or any other contact information is never provided.
The Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate points out that these messages do not come under any circumstances from credit institutions or credit companies, specifically licensed for this purpose, and informs internet users that these types of messages are intended to persuade, in a deceptive manner ("phishing"), willing and unsuspecting people seeking the granting of money or a loan, to send:
- either their personal information and data (identity, passport, tax registration number (A.F.M.), etc.), in order to further use them for malicious purposes,
- or their personal financial data (bank account numbers, personal identification numbers (PIN numbers), credit card numbers, ATM card information, credit card verification codes , etc.)
- or be asked to initially pay an amount in advance, in order to supposedly start the loan disbursement process. In fact, in the latter case, they ask for the funds to be sent via money transfer companies and not through bank accounts.
The Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate recommends and urges internet users not to respond to and reply to emails requesting personal or financial information. Also, never send personal information or transaction details via a shared email address (webmail).
Additionally, internet users are advised not to open e-mails whose origin or sender they are unsure of. Particularly dangerous are e-mails of unknown origin that contain attached files, especially those with the extension .exe, .pif, or .vbs.
It is recalled that for similar incidents, citizens can contact the Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate at the following contact details:
- By phone at: 210 – 6476959
- By sending an e-mail to: ccu@cybercrimeunit.gov.gr
