Warning: Hoax emails purporting to be from OLAF

11/06/2020

OLAF is aware that an online scam is currently circulating using hoax messages purporting to be from OLAF, the European Anti-Fraud Office. This is a phishing attempt and anyone receiving a message purporting to be from OLAF or one of its staff members should under no circumstances reveal any personal information.  

The sophisticated scam uses OLAF’s logo and the identities of OLAF staff members. But there are a number of tell-tale signs to show that the messages are a hoax. First, the messages and their attachments use an old version of the OLAF logo, and are not consistent in its use, mixing it with the current logo in the same message.

Second, the messages are sent from a fake mail address (olaf-europa.eu): all European Commission emails, including those of OLAF, are easily identifiable as genuine because they all end the same way with ec.europa.eu

If you receive a message purporting to be from OLAF, and you are not sure if it is genuine or not, please contact OLAF directly at OLAF-FMB-SPEec [dot] europa [dot] eu (OLAF-FMB-SPE[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) ONLY. Do not reply to the message or to any email address or follow any links contained within it. You should also report the phishing attempt to your own national authorities responsible for cybercrime for them to follow up.