These nasty emails fake an invoice. But in reality, there are malware in the fictitious invoices.
Consumer advice centers and the State Criminal Police Office give tips on protecting yourself from digital blackmail and malware: Because invoices for an online order have allegedly not yet been paid, unknown senders threaten debt collection procedures in emails. In other cases, they attempt to obtain ransom money using false claims. Fraud is often involved, warn the consumer advice center and the Rhineland-Palatinate State Criminal Police Office.
“Scammers repeatedly try to put consumers under pressure with dubious emails and get money,” says Jennifer Kaiser from the Rhineland-Palatinate Consumer Center. “In many cases, such methods are intended to install malware on computers.”
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For example, the senders of the emails claim that the invoice for an online order is still outstanding and at the same time threaten a debt collection procedure with additional costs if the invoice is not paid.
This is how the malware works
Further details about payment, in particular about the recipient and bank details, are allegedly in an attached document or in a link. If the attachment is opened or the link is clicked, a program that is harmful to the computer, also called ransomware, opens. The program infects the computer and thereby blocks further access to the device. In addition, the files on the computer are encrypted so that victims can no longer access their personal documents and pictures.
So that those affected can use their device again, the fraudsters demand a ransom. As a rule, however, the perpetrators no longer release the device even after receiving the ransom, so we strongly warn against paying such a ransom. In addition, the payment supports criminal activities, as the perpetrators see themselves as confirmed by their success and receive incentives for further crimes.
Other methods are also known
Another scam: The fraudsters claim in their emails that they recorded the victim performing sexual acts on themselves and that they would publish the recordings on the Internet if no payment was made in the form of Bitcoins. Those affected should not allow themselves to be intimidated by such emails and should under no circumstances pay the ransom demanded.
The State Criminal Police Office and the Rhineland-Palatinate consumer advice center give tips on how to avoid “digital blackmail”:
Those affected should not open attachments from unknown emails or click on any links. You should also check the sender carefully and make regular backup copies.
Anyone who suspects they are being blackmailed or has been a victim of blackmail should report it to the local police immediately. Further information and police contacts can be found at https://www.polizei-beratung.de/startseite-und-aktions/
If you have received a strange email and are not sure what it is about, you can find out more from your consumer advice center at https://www.verbraucherzentrale-rlp.de/wissen/digitale-welt/onlinehandel
You can find further useful tips and information on the topic of “cybersecurity” at www.cybersicherheit-rlp.de
Article image: Rhineland-Palatinate State Criminal Police Office
Notes:
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