Civil Guard Issues Warning on Cyber Scams Using Fake Official Documents
Cybercriminals have refined their deception techniques to ensnare victims in their “trap”.
The Civil Guard of the Las Palmas Command, through the Team@, has detected the use of manipulated official documents, leading to scams totalling approximately €60,000 recently. In these new cases, it has been observed that cybercriminals are employing documents that appear official, featuring the logos and imagery of the Civil Guard to mislead their victims.
In a statement, the Civil Guard cautioned that the modus operandi aims primarily to convince citizens that there is a real obligation or problem, persuading them to make transfers of varying amounts to bank accounts, both national and foreign, under false pretenses.
These types of documents are typically sent via email and, at first glance, appear official, mimicking the aesthetics of genuine communications and requests issued by the Armed Institute.
They include detailed information and utilise persuasive language designed to create fear and urgency, warning of supposed ongoing investigations, unpaid fines, or even leading victims to believe they are collaborating in an alleged secret police operation.
The ultimate goal of this methodology is for victims, believing they are responding to legitimate communication, to proceed with money transfers to bank accounts located outside national territory in most cases.
Typically, the communications are personalised and addressed to victims by their real names, based on a context suggesting that the victim may be involved in fraudulent investment activities.
In relation to the aforementioned, the Civil Guard reminds citizens that while they may contact them via electronic means such as email addresses ending in @guardiacivil.org or @guardiacivil.es, they would never request the payment of fines or cooperation in investigations via bank transfers to private accounts. Any official communication from the Civil Guard will always be conducted through secure, verifiable channels.
