Online scams appeared practically at the very beginning of the internet. Every day, criminals create new applications designed to deceive internet users. Recently, information emerged about emails being sent to email addresses that allegedly constitute a court order or judgment, or enforcement by a bailiff. These messages contain a file with a PDF extension in their attachments; when opened, it displays a document demanding payment or informing the recipient of financial arrears.
Opening this attachment most often infects our computer with malicious software designed to take over bank account details, personal data, passwords for various accounts or social media platforms.
The threat is significantly more serious if we use the computer to make bank transfers. The virus can, for example, redirect a transfer to another bank account unknown to the sender. Such situations can occur even when we make transfers to predefined recipients. If we notice this quickly and submit an appropriate instruction to our bank, the transfer may be cancelled. Otherwise, recovering our money may be considerably more difficult or even impossible.
Such messages are sent, among other places, from personal email accounts, for example jan.kowalski@onet.pl, but they may also contain addresses resembling those of the institutions they allegedly come from.
The police appeal!
If we are not parties to court or other proceedings and are not expecting such correspondence, we should not open suspicious emails, especially their attachments.
To effectively protect yourself against a virus attack, remember to use legal, fully functional and regularly updated antivirus software, as well as to keep the operating system and other software in use up to date.
KGP/ii