Cyber police: Scammers pose as journalists to get data on families of missing persons

Scammers pose as volunteers, journalists, or representatives of state or international organizations to extort money or confidential data from relatives of missing persons, the cyber police reports on Facebook.

“The perpetrators exploit the emotional state of the relatives of missing persons, promising to 'help' find their loved ones,” the cyber police writes.

The scammers operate by:

• offering information about a missing person's whereabouts or their release for a payment;
• requesting personal data of military personnel, bank details or other confidential information;
• asking for photos of documents or even threatening nonexistent debts.

Scammers often call themselves:

• volunteers or journalists;
• representatives of state bodies or international missions.

The cyber police noted that scammers contact their victims by phone, on social media or in messenger apps, manipulating people's trust.

If you suspect fraud:

• file a digital report with the cyber police;
• contact the National Police at 112 or 102.

The cyber police stressed that state bodies, official volunteer organizations and international missions do not charge for providing assistance or sharing information.

As reported earlier, scammers are mailing out fake letters posing as Diya promising tax refunds.