Collector shocked by begging email
Date of Publishing:05/12/2010
Location:Hyderabad
A hacker changed the password of Mr Gulzar’s email and changed the set- tings and removed the address list before sending ma- ils to the contacts.
Hackers broke into the email account of the district collector, Mr Natarajan Gulzar, and sent mails to all the contacts in the address book asking them to send £2,200 to him.
After breaking in and creating mischief, the hacker also changed the password of Mr Gulzar's email account in gmail.
The mail that went to the contacts in the name of Mr Gulzar said that he was in England for a seminar and had misplaced his wallet on his way to the hotel.
"I would like you to assist me with an urgent loan of £2,200 to sort out my hotel bills and get myself back home," said the mail.
"Please send the money through Western Union to Gulzar Natarajan, Address: 75, Sloane Street, London, SW1X9SC United Kingdom." The message added: "Kindly help me to make the transfer as soon as you receive this email and once you have it sent, send me the money transfer control number with details." Mr Gulzar was shocked when he started receiving calls from his friends and family members about the message.
"I was in my office at Chiragh Lane and by around 10.30 am on Friday people started calling me," he said.
"I had logged into my email at 9.30 am and kept it open while doing some office work.
Immediately, I checked my email and found a virus. I logged out and when I tried to login again I could not. My password was changed.” The hacker even changed the settings and removed the address list from the email before sending mails to the contacts.
Mr Gulzar lodged a complaint with the cyber crimes police with a request to register a case, investigate into it and take necessary action .
The deputy commissioner of police (crimes), Mr J.Satyanarayana, said it will take two days for the cyber crime wing to trace out the details of the hacker. "Hacking is a punishable offence with an imprisonment of three years and fine of '1 lakh," he added.
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