Prepared by: Ridona Berisha
Several documents with the logo of the Kosovo Police (KP), government emblem, various stamps, and EUROPOL annotations have been sent to different addresses using the names of high-ranking officials within the KP. However, their senders are not Kosovar institutions, and the emails along with the documents are, according to the clarification by the KP, fabricated. With the aim of not causing concerns among citizens, the KP has only disclosed the forged documents and email, without revealing to which addresses these emails were sent.
In the content of the forged document, which has been distributed in the name of the KP, it is written that “By mandate of the Deputy Director General of the Kosovo Police, in partnership with the EUROPOL Central Office in Pristina; I inform you about a computerized confiscation of cyber infiltration captured at your internet protocol (IP) address in connection with the following analysis:
**CHILD PORNOGRAPHY.
**PEDOPHILIA
**CYBER PORNOGRAPHY
**EXHIBITIONISM
**GROOMING,” states the content of the forged document.
Furthermore, a false warning is given there, stating, “Based on the Penal Code of the Republic of Kosovo, severe imprisonment and fines will be imposed on the offenders.” The document claims to be signed by the Director of the Investigations Department, Agron Nezaj, and the Deputy Director General, Fehmi Hoti.
Sbunkeri has sought additional clarifications from the Kosovo Police if similar cases have occurred before, to which addresses the emails were sent, and what their purpose was. However, in response, they have only provided the documents that have also been published in the media release.
Initially, on July 17th, 2023, the KP clarified that an email containing forged documents was being distributed, using the names of high-ranking officials of the KP and various logos.
“However, we reemphasize that these are not official documents, they lack the official format and writing of the KP, and they have not been issued from the official addresses of the Kosovo Police,” states the clarification.
On July 27 as well, the KP released another statement, reiterating that these emails are forged, while urging citizens not to fall victim to such disinformation/fraud. They also requested that anyone who receives such an email/document should report it to the Kosovo Police.
The perpetrators of this criminal act have not yet been found, and according to the KP, “competent police units have been engaged to investigate, verify, and uncover the perpetrators of this criminal act.”
*This article is published as part of the Western Balkans Regional Initiative against disinformation.Western Balkans Anti-Disinformation Hub: exposing malign influences through watchdog journalism.
