Cyber Crime
Top 10 Daily Cybercrime Brief by FCRF [20.11.2024]: 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. Bengaluru Woman Loses Rs 1.1 Lakh in Fake Child Pornography Cyber Scam
A 31-year-old Bengaluru woman lost Rs 1.1 lakh in a cyber scam after being falsely accused of uploading child pornography. Posing as officials, fraudsters claimed her Aadhaar-linked SIM was misused, threatened legal action, and demanded money during a fake investigation. She filed a complaint under the IT Act with Annapoorneshwari Nagar police.
2. Gurugram Police Uncover Rs 33.5 Crore Cyber Fraud Spread Across India
Gurugram Police arrested 11 cybercriminals involved in Rs 33.5 crore fraud across 9,226 complaints nationwide. The accused, linked to fake Instagram IDs, task-based scams, and online fraud, had 388 cases filed against them, including 19 in Haryana. Police seized Rs 14.47 lakh and devices, continuing efforts against cybercrime with public caution advised.
3. Massive Cyber Fraud Exposed: Rs 111 Crore Stolen from 623 Bank Accounts
Surat Police uncovered a gang laundering Rs 111 crore from 200 ‘digital arrest’ scams across 15 states and abroad. Four suspects were arrested, revealing transactions via rooted devices linked to Taiwan and Dubai. Police seized 623 accounts, 336 SIMs, and ₹111 crore in fraud, with eight suspects still at large.
ALSO READ: Nominations Open for FCRF Excellence Awards Honoring Fraud Risk Management Professionals at FutureCrime Summit 2025
4. Punjab Police Arrest Two Assam Residents in Rs 76 Lakh Cyber Fraud Case
Punjab Police arrested two Assam residents, dismantling a cyber fraud ring linked to scams worth Rs 15 crore across seven states. Posing as Mumbai Cyber Crime officials, the syndicate extorted Rs 76 lakh from a retired officer. International links to Cambodia and Hong Kong are under investigation.
5. Posing as CBI Officers, Cyber Criminals Dupe Retired Patna Professor of Rs 3 Crore in 48 Hours
A retired Patna professor lost Rs 3.07 crore in 48 hours to cybercriminals posing as CBI officers. The fraudsters used fake warrants and intimidation to siphon funds through accounts in Karnataka, West Bengal, and Gujarat. Authorities, tracing an interstate network, labeled this as Patna’s largest reported cyber fraud case.
INTERNATIONAL
6. Equinox Healthcare Alerts 21,000 Patients and Staff About Data Breach
Equinox, a New York health services provider, notified 21,565 clients and staff of a data breach exposing personal and health information. The incident, linked to LockBit ransomware, occurred in April, with 31.8GB of stolen data leaked by August. Despite disruptions, LockBit remains a major ransomware threat in 2024.
ALSO READ: FutureCrime Summit: Biggest Conference on Cyber Crimes Set to Return on February 13-14, 2025, in New Delhi
7. Hackers Target Private Schools for Ransom as Cyber Threats Escalate
Australia’s cyber spy agency warns wealthy private schools and businesses holding sensitive data face growing cyber threats. The ASD reported 87,000 cybercrime cases last year, with ransomware attacks increasing. Schools, including NSW’s Association of Independent Schools, were targeted by malware like “Gootloader,” highlighting the need for evolving cybersecurity measures.
8. Critical Windows Kerberos Flaw Exposes Millions of Servers to Attack
Microsoft issued a critical patch for CVE-2024-43639, a Kerberos vulnerability allowing remote code execution. Affecting over 1.2 million servers globally, the flaw poses risks of data theft and system compromise. Admins must urgently patch Windows Servers, disable unnecessary KDC Proxy services, and enhance security measures to prevent exploitation.
ALSO READ: Nominations Open for ‘Women in Cyber’ Honors at FutureCrime Summit 2025
9. Alleged Phobos Ransomware Admin Extradited to US Over $16M Extortion
Russian citizen Evgenii Ptitsyn, accused of aiding the Phobos ransomware operation, was extradited to the U.S. from South Korea. Allegedly managing ransomware distribution and extorting $16 million from global victims, including schools and hospitals, Ptitsyn faces 13 charges and over a century in prison if convicted. International cooperation enabled his arrest.
10. Ngioweb Botnet Exploits IoT Devices to Power NSOCKS Proxy Network
The Ngioweb botnet fuels the NSOCKS proxy network, exploiting over 20,000 IoT devices for credential-stuffing and DDoS attacks. Operated by Water Barghest, NSOCKS enables global proxy services, targeting vendors like NETGEAR and Hikvision. Researchers warn its growing use by APT groups and criminals for covert malicious activities worldwide.
