RBI Governor Targeted by Fake Email Impersonating ISIS

The crime branch of Mumbai Police recently filed a complaint after Raghuram Rajan, the Governor of India's top bank RBI (Reserve Bank of India) received a threat email claiming to be from the Islamist hardcore militia franchise popularly known as ISIS or Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The email contained the initials of the extremist group 'isis' thus creating panic all over, reported asianage.com on April 17, 2015.

But, Police officials are of the opinion that it was a usual cyber scam masterminded by Nigerian cyber actors who unsuspectingly entice innocents with scam emails that ultimately lead to victims disclosing their bank details or depositing huge amount of money into somebody else's account. Having no "anti-minority antecedent" linked to Mr. Rajan, Police believes he is just being targeted by scammers in the name of the dreaded extremists (ISIS).

Meanwhile, a case under various sections of the Information Technology Act has been registered with the Cyber crime cell of Police.

DCP (Crime Branch), Dhananjay Kulkarni commented that the Cyber Crime Investigation Cell (CCIC) has started probing the case and is awaiting Google's answer for the complete details of the email address, as reported asianage.com on April 17, 2015.

Police and RBI following this incident have stepped up the security of the RBI Governor at all the programs attended by him which includes press conferences as well.

Unfortunately, it is not the sole incident that used the name of the extremist group (ISIS) ever since the beginning of April 2015.

Another scary email was received by the Press Club in Chennai which reportedly warned of bomb explosions in Chennai, and threatening to attack Hindu leaders.

Investigating officers claim that it was a locally sent scam email that attempted to garner some inexpensive publicity. Blasts in Chennai and vandalizing Hindu leaders are a stratagem of Al-Ummah, an Islamic militant organization, and is not on the priority cards of ISIS right now, they add.

Individuals masterminding such scam emails are well-aware that they lead to tension and panic and their mere intent was to terrorize innocents. They often test the preparedness of Police before launching such massive attacks, officials add.

» SPAMfighter News - 4/27/2015