Bulgarian police warn of phishing scam using fake summons

The Bulgarian Ministry of Interior and the General Directorate National Police (GDNP) have issued a warning regarding a new phishing scheme targeting citizens through fraudulent emails. The scammers send messages titled ‘Police Summons Notice,’ designed to mimic official correspondence by using the logos and names of the Ministry of Interior, the GDNP, and Europol.

In these emails, recipients are falsely accused of involvement in serious crimes and are threatened with arrest if they do not respond within a 48-hour window. The scheme relies on creating a sense of urgency to pressure individuals into opening attachments or contacting specific email addresses provided in the message.

Authorities emphasize that the presence of official logos, signatures, registration numbers, and names of police officials does not guarantee authenticity, as these elements can be easily copied. The GDNP clarified that it does not notify citizens of criminal proceedings via threatening emails or demand explanations through email within short timeframes. Citizens are advised not to open links or attachments, not to provide personal data, and to verify any suspicious communications through official institutional channels.