Scam: Re: Official court order warning ⚖️ | Official India Commissioner Of Police
It has come to our attention that you have been in possession of and/or viewing material that depicts minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Complete Email
from: Official India Commissioner Of Police <police.sspt.in.gov22@vigrionewsalert.org>
reply-to: office.india.gov@cyber-wizard.com
subject: Re: Official court order warning ⚖️
mailed-by: vigrionewsalert.org
Email Body
COURT NOTICE
It has come to our attention that you have been in possession of and/or viewing material that depicts minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This is a serious violation of federal and state laws.
- Possession of child pornography
- Viewing of child pornography
- Distribution of child pornography to others
If these allegations are true, you may face serious legal consequences, including but not limited to:
- Criminal charges and prosecution
- Fines and imprisonment
- Registration as a sex offender
- Civil liability for damages
You are required to respond to these allegations within 48 hours. Failure to respond may result in further legal action.
Regards,
Mr. Prashant Gautam,
Police/Chief of Police
Prosecutor over minors and Offenses related to cyber crime.
National Highway- 9 Mahipalpur, New Delhi India - 180068.
Attachment
Red Flags
Red Flags Identified in the Email:
-
Suspicious Email Addresses:
- Sender's Email:
police.sspt.in.gov22@vigrionewsalert.org
- Official Indian government emails typically end with
.gov.in
, not.org
. - The domain
vigrionewsalert.org
is not associated with any government entity.
- Official Indian government emails typically end with
- Reply-to Email:
office.india.gov@cyber-wizard.com
- The domain
cyber-wizard.com
is unrelated to government agencies.
- The domain
- Sender's Email:
-
Inconsistent Terminology:
- References to "federal and state laws" are more common in the U.S., not in India.
- Terms like "Registration as a sex offender" are not standard in Indian legal proceedings.
- The phrase "Prosecutor over minors and Offenses related to cyber crime" is unprofessional and atypical.
-
Generic and Non-Specific Language:
- The email lacks personal details such as your name, case number, or specific incidents.
- It uses broad accusations without concrete evidence.
-
Urgency and Threats:
- The demand to respond within 48 hours under threat of "further legal action" is a common scam tactic.
- Legitimate legal notices provide adequate time for response and are delivered through official channels.
-
Unprofessional Formatting and Language:
- Absence of official letterhead, insignia, or government seals.
- Grammatical errors and awkward phrasing throughout the email.
- Redundant titles like "Police/Chief of Police" in the signature.
-
Incorrect Contact Information:
- Physical Address Provided: "National Highway- 9 Mahipalpur, New Delhi India - 180068"
- The postal code "180068" corresponds to Jammu, not New Delhi (which typically starts with "1100").
- National Highway 9 does not run through Mahipalpur, which raises authenticity concerns.
- No official phone numbers or additional contact methods are included.
- Physical Address Provided: "National Highway- 9 Mahipalpur, New Delhi India - 180068"
-
Questionable Sender Identity:
- As of the latest records, there is no known "Mr. Prashant Gautam" serving as a high-ranking official in the Indian police.
- Legitimate communications would come from verifiable officials.
-
Improper Communication Method:
- Serious legal allegations are usually communicated through formal letters delivered in person or via registered mail, not email.
- Official agencies rarely initiate contact about legal matters through unsolicited emails.
-
Absence of Personalization:
- The email does not address you personally, which is uncommon in genuine legal communications.
-
Email Subject Line:
- The use of "Re: Official court order warning ⚖️" implies a response to a previous message, which is misleading if no prior communication exists.
-
Domains Used Are Unrelated to Government:
- Domains like
vigrionewsalert.org
andcyber-wizard.com
are not official government websites. - Government agencies have strict protocols for official communications, using verified and secure domains.
- Domains like
-
Emotional Manipulation:
- The email leverages fear and embarrassment to prompt a quick response, a common strategy in phishing scams.
Attachment Red Flags:
-
Forged and Misleading Logos:
- The attachment includes several logos (e.g., Intelligence Bureau, CBI, INTERPOL) that are likely misused or fabricated to give a false sense of legitimacy.
-
Excessive Stamping and Seals:
- The document is cluttered with multiple seals, stamps, and signatures, which is atypical of official government documents.
-
Grammatical and Spelling Errors:
- The text contains errors, such as "sanctions will be impose" and "produce, disseminate or access child pornographic images," which are unprofessional and uncharacteristic of official documents.
-
Vague and Sensationalist Language:
- The attachment uses vague but alarming terms like "Worst-of-list" and "TOP SECRET," which are not standard legal or governmental terminology.
-
Fake Signatures and Authorities:
- The document lists "Mr. Tapan Deka, Director of the Intelligence Bureau," and "Mr. Prashant Gautam, Police/Chief of Police," but these may not correspond to real individuals in those positions or could be entirely fabricated.
-
Improper Legal References:
- The attachment mentions sections of various acts, but the descriptions are not specific and lack proper context or legal language.
-
Threat of Immediate Arrest and Prosecution:
- The document threatens immediate legal action, which is not standard practice for genuine law enforcement agencies who follow due process.
Conclusion and Recommendations:
The email exhibits multiple red flags indicating it is likely a phishing attempt or scam designed to elicit a fearful reaction and prompt you to respond hastily. It is advisable to:
- Do Not Respond: Avoid replying to the email or providing any personal information.
- Report the Email: Forward it to your local cybercrime authorities or the Indian government's cybercrime reporting portal.
- Enhance Security Measures: Ensure your email and other personal accounts have strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication where possible.
- Stay Informed: Be cautious of unsolicited communications, especially those threatening legal action without proper verification.
Always verify suspicious communications through official channels before taking any action.