Overview
- Thousands of mobile users across Peru received a Sismate-formatted emergency notice on May 20 that warned of an 8.7-magnitude earthquake and tsunami and urged evacuation to high ground.
- Recipients reported the alert used Sismate’s characteristic emergency sound and format, which made the message appear authentic and caused widespread alarm.
- The hacker group Deface Perú publicly claimed it breached the MTC/INDECI channel and posted a second message accusing electoral fraud and linking to a Telegram account.
- INDECI issued an immediate statement saying the alert was false and reminding the public that Sismate is not used to predict earthquakes, while authorities have not yet released a full technical forensic report.
- Security experts and citizens cited a 2025 police warning about Deface Perú’s alleged past intrusions, urged tighter access controls and audits for Sismate, and warned that false alerts can cause real harm by creating panic and disrupting responses.