Govt officials receive fake emails of extortion in the name of DCP IFSO Prashant Gautam
New Delhi, August 18
An audacious new scam has been witenssed in Delhi where the goverment officers from customs, GST and others received emails from Delhi Police Special Cell's IFSO unit claiming that they are allegely involved in child pornography and they would be included in the ‘National Sex Offender’ register.
The emails were sent to GST, customs and ministry officials, and other public persons threatening them to pay Rs. 67 lakhs or face consequences.
The emails are in the name of DCP Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO), Prashant Kumar Gautam.
The Delhi Police’s IFSO unit on Thursday issued a clarification stating that the DCP wasn’t involved in the scam and that the emails were fake and created with “malicious intent.”
DCP Gautam said, “This unit has been alerted to the circulation of counterfeit emails bearing the subject “Police Dikshant Samaroh”. These emails use the Indian Police logo, the National Emblem and wrongfully associate with the name of the undersigned (DCP Gautam) and the particulars of this unit. These misleading emails are being disseminated to various government offices…Appropriate measures are being taken".
The fake emails were sent in the name of DCP Gautam and designation as ‘undersigned’ and sender. The emails state that the IFSO unit has summoned the victim against whom strict action would be taken, if he failed to respond. A letter with the Indian Police logo has been attached to the emails
The letter threatened the officers that their computer internet history reveals clicking on sites with child pornography and rape content. It directs targeted individuals to reply within 72 hours or they would be registered in the sex offenders’ register and their names leaked.
The accused are yet to be identified. The IFSO unit found out that five to six emails were used to send these mails to government officials however noone could be trapped and the scam uneaerthed in time.
The Delhi Police has also issued note to all ministries and concerned government department about the extortion scam and fake emaills to stay alert.
