The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has issued a warning about a rising threat to people’s online security. According to a public advisory from the Union home ministry’s cyber crime unit, fraudsters are sending fake emails that appear to be official government notifications. These emails aim to trick recipients into sharing sensitive information or falling victim to cyber scams.
Key Points from the MHA Cyber Wing Advisory:
I4C has advised the public to be cautious of emails that claim to be from government agencies, as they could be attempts at cyber fraud.
To verify the authenticity of such emails, I4C recommends checking if they originate from legitimate government websites ending with “gov.in”.
Citizens are urged to verify the name and contact details of the sender through online searches and by contacting the mentioned department directly to confirm the email’s legitimacy.
The advisory follows a recent increase in fraudulent emails impersonating government bodies like the Delhi Police Cyber Crime and Economic Offence, Central Economic Intelligence Bureau, and Intelligence Bureau.
I4C, established under the Ministry of Home Affairs to combat cyber crimes comprehensively, previously issued a similar advisory last August. It cautioned users about counterfeit emails impersonating its CEO, often titled with urgent or court notifications.
“These deceptive emails target various government offices and individuals, falsely accusing them of cyber crimes and urging them to respond,” stated the I4C.
The MHA and I4C emphasized that suspicious emails and other forms of cyber fraud should be promptly reported to www.cybercrime.gov.in or the cyber crime helpline at 1930.