Don't Respond to Messages: Fake WhatsApp Account Created Under the Name of the Head of the Food Safety Inspectorate

The head of the Republic of Armenia's Food Safety Inspection Body, Tigran Petrosyan, has been the subject of a fake WhatsApp account created online, sending out a series of messages that do not correspond to reality.

This was reported by the inspection body, which urged recipients of any messages received in his name not to respond and to inform the Food Safety Inspection Body's hotline at the 118 round-the-clock phone number.

“The purpose of such actions is to deceive or steal by abusing trust in a public official, acquire information that forms bank secrecy, as well as to coerce employees of various state institutions to use their official powers against state or service interests,” the statement reads.

“We request that you remain vigilant and, in order to avoid such frauds, do not respond to any suspicious messages,” it added.