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.

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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.

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Red Flags

Red Flags Identified in the Email:

  1. 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.
    • Reply-to Email: office.india.gov@cyber-wizard.com
      • The domain cyber-wizard.com is unrelated to government agencies.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. Absence of Personalization:

    • The email does not address you personally, which is uncommon in genuine legal communications.
  10. 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.
  11. Domains Used Are Unrelated to Government:

    • Domains like vigrionewsalert.org and cyber-wizard.com are not official government websites.
    • Government agencies have strict protocols for official communications, using verified and secure domains.
  12. Emotional Manipulation:

    • The email leverages fear and embarrassment to prompt a quick response, a common strategy in phishing scams.

Attachment Red Flags:

  1. 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.
  2. Excessive Stamping and Seals:

    • The document is cluttered with multiple seals, stamps, and signatures, which is atypical of official government documents.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Improper Legal References:

    • The attachment mentions sections of various acts, but the descriptions are not specific and lack proper context or legal language.
  7. 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.