Warning over new email scam telling victims they have been summoned to court

Email scam
Email scam

A warning has been issued about an email scam that is supposedly sent by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) telling the reader that they have been summoned to court.

The fake summons tells people that they are required by law to appear in court as a witness at a trial before instructing them to clink an included link with all the details.

Included on them email is the official CPS logo and information telling you the court location.

However, this is just another scam for hackers to steal money, according to Action Fraud.

Fake: The malicious email is supposedly from the CPS
Fake: The malicious email is supposedly from the CPS

They said that the link is likely to lead to malicious malware corrupting your device, enabling scammers to access sensitive information including passwords and bank details that are then used to commit fraud.

The link may also include ransomware, that effectively locks up your laptop or computer, enabling hackers to demand money before they unlock it.

The CPS said it would “never email witnesses in order to summons them to court”, while Action Fraud confirmed that the email has no connection to the CPS.

They said that anyone who receives it should not download any attachments or click any links and instead report it to the Action Fraud helpline on 0300 123 2040 or use the online fraud reporting tool.

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