Speaking to media, the Collector said that the authorities received a fake email in her name asking them to purchase gift cards online. Many opened the mail presuming it to be genuine.Then, the scammer would also write subsequent mails detailing on the different gift card options available for purchase.

“The official email address of the Nilgiris collector is collrnlg@nic.in. I request not to open the mail, if it comes from any other email address, claiming to be from the Collector,” said the Collector. On receiving information about the fraud, a complaint was submitted to Nilgiris District Superintendent of Police V Sasi Mohan. The police are trying to trace the IP address to identify the origin of email. The police also issued caution against opening any hyperlinks or QR codes received from unknown email IDs. “Opening such mails may lure a person into an easy trap as the fraudsters may then trick into downloading applications to monitor and involve in phishing activities,” said SP Sasi Mohan.