Cyber Crime
Top 10 Daily Cybercrime Brief by FCRF [30.05.2024]: Click here to Know More
Important global cybercrime news has been curated by Futurecrime Researchers to keep you informed about various types of digital fraud occurring worldwide and to provide insights into the best mitigation strategies. Read below to learn more in detail.
1. SEBI instructs depository participants to take immediate action against fraud
Amid rising financial fraud, SEBI directs swift action and reporting of impersonation and identity misuse to the National Cybercrime Reporting portal. Cybercriminals, posing as stockbrokers and executives, use fake apps and social media ads to target investors. SEBI warns against fraudulent trading schemes promoted by scammers impersonating legitimate financial entities.
2. Chinese national among five arrested for cyber fraud
In Noida, five individuals, including a Chinese national, were arrested for a cyber fraud scheme involving bulk SIM card purchases to operate social media accounts for investment scams. Police seized various items and discovered money was transferred through mule accounts, leading to the arrests following a Rs 51 lakh transaction alert.
3. DoT introduces new number series for marketing and service calls to combat cyber fraud
The Department of Telecommunications has introduced a 10-digit number series starting with 160 for marketing and service calls to help customers identify legitimate entities and avoid fraud. The initiative also includes measures to prevent SMS fraud, blacklisting entities linked to fraudulent messages and prohibiting them from using telecom operators for SMS.
4. Man loses Rs 1 crore in trading scam
In Chandigarh, cyber fraudsters scammed a resident of Rs 1 crore through fake stock market and IPO investments. Separately, a Powai resident lost ₹4.88 lakhs from his bank account after installing a remote access app while searching for hospital contact information. Police have registered cases and initiated investigations.
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5. Beware of ‘Joker,’ the new cyber scam that employs ‘money mules.
Cybercriminals in Cambodia with Chinese connections scammed Indians out of Rs 12 crore by luring them to open bank accounts and hiring jobseekers to defraud fellow citizens. In Chennai, a homemaker joined a Telegram group, ‘Joker,’ and unwittingly became involved in a global cybercrime syndicate, leading to a police investigation.
INTERNATIONAL
6. US sanctions three Chinese nationals and three Thai entities over cyber fraud linked to bomb threats and COVID relief
The US Treasury sanctioned three Chinese nationals and three Thai entities linked to the 911 S5 botnet, which enabled cyber fraud, bomb threats, and COVID aid scams, causing billions in losses. The botnet compromised 19 million IP addresses. US and international partners coordinated to block these entities’ assets and prohibit dealings.
7. Church app developer exposes data of nearly one million Brazilians
The Cybernews team discovered an open Google Cloud Storage bucket belonging to inChurch, exposing 9.2 million files, including personal data of 932,000 Brazilian church members. The leak, due to improper authentication, risks phishing, identity theft, and doxxing. After notification, inChurch secured the data and reported no malicious access.
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8. Millions download apps containing banking malware from Google Play
Researchers from Zscaler ThreatLabz found multiple apps on Google Play infected with Anatsa malware, which steals banking credentials. Disguised as PDF readers and QR code readers, these apps were installed 5.5 million times. The malware evades detection through multi-stage attacks and techniques to avoid Google’s security measures.
9. U.S. sentences 31-year-old to 10 years for laundering $4.5 million in email scams
The U.S. Department of Justice sentenced Malachi Mullings to 10 years for laundering $4.5 million through BEC and romance scams. Mullings used fake accounts, targeting healthcare and private companies. Meanwhile, Russian citizen Evgeniy Doroshenko was indicted for selling network access on cybercrime forums, facing charges of wire fraud and computer fraud.
10. Billion-dollar botnet dismantled for pandemic fraud and child exploitation
YunHe Wang, the mastermind of the 911 S5 botnet, arrested for selling access to 19 million infected IP addresses globally. The botnet enabled various crimes, resulting in billions in losses. Wang faces up to 65 years in prison. Assets worth $30 million seized. US Treasury issues sanctions against Wang and accomplices.