The Federal Police Administration (FUP), through the Department for Combating Computer Crime, has warned the public about frequent reports from citizens regarding the commission of criminal offenses of fraud through the Viber application.
In order to protect personal property and safety, the FUP makes an urgent appeal to the public to exercise maximum caution.
– In the last few days, several reports have been received from unknown persons whose modus operandi includes identity theft through photos from social networks, up to direct financial extortion. After creating fake Viber accounts using stolen photos, scammers target the victim’s loved ones. The fraud is finalized by sending messages in which, under the pretext of an emergency such as medical help or a problem with a bank account, contacts are asked for quick cash payments – according to the FUP.
They add that the police officers of the Federal Police Administration, in cooperation with the competent prosecutor’s offices, are taking intensive measures to shed light on these crimes.
Citizens are advised that in a situation where they receive a message demanding an urgent payment of money, they do not make any transactions until they contact that person via a direct phone call and personally confirm their identity.
Also, it is necessary to take care of the privacy of profiles on social networks, limiting the visibility of your profile photos and personal data so that they are available only to a circle of friends, which significantly reduces the risk of identity theft.
The FUP calls on citizens who have been the target of such attempts or who have already suffered damage, to report the case without delay to the competent police station according to their place of residence.
Timely reporting to the police, along with providing the phone numbers from which the messages arrived and data on the transactions carried out, are key to the quick identification and prosecution of the perpetrators.
– Prevention is the best way to protect against digital fraud. Share this information with your loved ones, especially the elderly who are often the target of such attacks – the FUP announced.
(TYPE/Photo: Illustration)
