Warning - Fake Fake Court Emails

WE have seen a rise in this type of email over the last few weeks. Merseyside Police have been informed about the latest emails. This latest phishing email is a new variation of the fake 'Parking Ticket' and also 'Speeding Fine' scams that have started to hit inboxes throughout the UK. We also expect at this time of year, the Tax scam emails.

As with the other emails, the idea is to frighten or put pressure on someone to click on a link or open a file. This is a common scam, but this a new look and wording.
The latest emails come with the header:- "Police.UK" on them and have the subject:- "Yоu'rе summоnеd tо соurt аs witnеss" or "Yоu'rе summoned tо соurt."

At 1st glance and if clicking though emails fast, you might think of clicking on, but do not do it!  This is 100% a scam and can result in a variety of problems, from viruses to loss of personal data or even money. The 1st thing you should notice if you do open it is that your name is not on it!

Check to see if the address sent is from another sender and not the Police. Even if it says it is from the Police, don't click on it!  Even before you click on it, the emails say that they are from someone other email address than the sender it reports to be issued from.

More red flags that this email will raise, if you look at it are the spelling errors and strange use of wording.  The email goes on to say the following:- "You're herewith notified to attend to court to givе confirmation. It is extrеmеly obligatory that you read thе subpoenа yоu rеceivеd vеry closely. This will stаte exactly whаt thе pocess will bе if you break down to dо what is bounden оf yоu. With regards Witness Cаre Unit аgent Pierre-Paul Lassonde. Pleаsе, view сourt lоcаtiоn and details of case. View саse detаils. This еmаil is the раrt of Thе Crown Prosесution Servicе оnline notifiсation prоjeсt. Аll cоntеnt is аvailаble under thе Opеn Govеrnmеnt Liсеnсe v3.0 (орens in а nеw windоw) unless othеrwise stated."

Then the fact it says:- "аgent Bob Beeler" is yet another red flag.

Next the tag line at the bottom of the email reads:- "Аll cоntеnt is аvailаble under thе Opеn Govеrnmеnt Liсеnсe v3.0 (орens in а nеw windоw) unless othеrwise stated." This should set alarm bells off.

If all looks ok, and no spelling errors are showing and it says it was sent via the Police, they would have contacted directly and not in this way. Plus other warning sign is the word:- "subроena" is Russian, meaning a legal document ordering someone to go to Court. So why would they use a Russian word?

Then hoverer over the link, you will see that it does not go to the Police, but to a website w@@@@@@@@@y.com, as it clearly is not the Police website or the Crown Prosecution Service's website. (We have removed the site name, as the site could have been hacked and even if not, we would not recommend visiting it.)

If you get this email, our advice, and also the Police advice is:- "Do do not open it, just delete it." Remember, even if it looks authentic, if you're not expecting it, or it looks too good, do not open it.  Keep updated about scam emails and websites, also learn how to report them via the UK's National Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting Centre, Action Fraud's website and Facebook Page. Also, install a Phishing Filter on your emails, if you do not have one already. They are not 100%, but do remove many of the scam emails being sent currently. Click here to see a large picture of the email.