Scam with impersonation of Europol Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director
scam
09 Dec 2021
/ 11:48
A scam involving impersonation of Europol officials has come to light.
According to an announcement from the Hellenic Police (ELAS), an international scam has recently come to light in EU countries involving the impersonation of the Europol Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director and other officials.
The scam artists tell people that they are under investigation by Europol and try to persuade them to pay money in order to resolve the issue.
Europol has asked the national police forces to publish the following statement:
“Europol has been made aware of scams using the names of their Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director as well as various international Law Enforcement officials. Emails or messages on social media, written in different languages, use the Europol logo, the name of Catherine De Bolle and/or Jean-Philippe Lecouffe to make it sound serious and legitimate. Don’t be misled – this correspondence is fake. Neither Europol’s Executive Director nor the Deputy Executive Director would directly contact members of the public requesting an immediate action or threatening individuals with opening a criminal investigation.
If you receive a suspicious email or correspondence using the name of Europol’s Executive Director or Deputy Executive Director, please report the matter to your local Law Enforcement Authority for further investigation.”
The Hellenic Police is giving the following advice to those who receive scam messages:
- Do not respond to these types of e-mail.
- Do not, for any reason, communicate with these people.
- Ignore the messages and do not put money in the accounts given.
- Do not open e-mail attachments from unknown senders.
- Immediately change any passwords that are considered to be at risk.
- Check and update computer security settings.
Citizens can contact the Cyber Crime division with information or to report online scams:
Tel: 111 88
E-mail: [email protected]
Twitter: SOS Cyber Alert line - https://twitter.com/CyberAlertGR
Useful information is also available on the Citizens Advice page on the ELAS website - www.hellenicpolice.gr
The scam artists tell people that they are under investigation by Europol and try to persuade them to pay money in order to resolve the issue.
Europol has asked the national police forces to publish the following statement:
“Europol has been made aware of scams using the names of their Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director as well as various international Law Enforcement officials. Emails or messages on social media, written in different languages, use the Europol logo, the name of Catherine De Bolle and/or Jean-Philippe Lecouffe to make it sound serious and legitimate. Don’t be misled – this correspondence is fake. Neither Europol’s Executive Director nor the Deputy Executive Director would directly contact members of the public requesting an immediate action or threatening individuals with opening a criminal investigation.
If you receive a suspicious email or correspondence using the name of Europol’s Executive Director or Deputy Executive Director, please report the matter to your local Law Enforcement Authority for further investigation.”
The Hellenic Police is giving the following advice to those who receive scam messages:
- Do not respond to these types of e-mail.
- Do not, for any reason, communicate with these people.
- Ignore the messages and do not put money in the accounts given.
- Do not open e-mail attachments from unknown senders.
- Immediately change any passwords that are considered to be at risk.
- Check and update computer security settings.
Citizens can contact the Cyber Crime division with information or to report online scams:
Tel: 111 88
E-mail: [email protected]
Twitter: SOS Cyber Alert line - https://twitter.com/CyberAlertGR
Useful information is also available on the Citizens Advice page on the ELAS website - www.hellenicpolice.gr
