Cyber Crime
Top 10 Daily Cybercrime Brief by FCRF [04.10.2024]: 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. Retired IAS Officer Defrauded of Rs 76 Lakh in Scam
A retired IAS officer, Harjinder Singh Chahal, was duped of Rs 76 lakh by cybercriminals posing as Mumbai Crime Branch officials. They falsely accused him of money laundering and tricked him into depositing money in various bank accounts. The State Cyber Crime Cell has registered a case, but the culprits remain unidentified.
2. Teacher Dies After Cybercriminals Attempt to Scam Him, Investigation Underway in Agra
A government school teacher in Agra, Malti Verma, died from a cardiac arrest after cybercriminals posing as policemen falsely claimed her daughter was involved in a scandal. The criminals demanded Rs 1 lakh for her release. Despite her son’s reassurances, Malti panicked and passed away while being taken to the hospital.
3. Mumbai Woman Loses Rs 6 Lakh in Online Fraud While Trying to Save Rs 5,000
A 31-year-old woman lost nearly Rs 6 lakh in a cyber scam after attempting a cardless ATM withdrawal. Fraudsters posing as NPCI officials tricked her into downloading an app and sharing her screen. Over several days, Rs 5.98 lakh was drained from her accounts. She later filed a police complaint.
4. Sanyasi Scammed of Rs 27 Lakh by Cybercriminals Posing as Police Officers
A 67-year-old sanyasi in Pune was duped of Rs 27 lakh by cybercriminals posing as TRAI and Mumbai Police officials. The fraudsters claimed his Aadhaar was misused for illegal activities and convinced him to transfer his savings to a fake “RBI safe account.” An FIR was filed after the scam was uncovered.
ALSO READ: Join The Movement: Registration Open for ‘Cyber Safe Uttar Pradesh’ Event by FCRF on October 17
5. Fake Profile of Thrissur Collector Used in Scam, Investigation Launched
A gang attempted to scam an Athirappilly resident by creating a fake Facebook account of Thrissur District Collector, Arjun Pandian. Posing as the Collector, they offered discounted furniture via a CRPF contact. The resident realized it was a scam and backed out. The Cyber Cell has launched an investigation.
INTERNATIONAL
6. US and Microsoft Dismantle Russian Hackers’ Network Targeting Officials and NGOs
Russian-linked hacking group Star Blizzard targeted Western think tanks, journalists, and former military officials using spear phishing to steal sensitive information, according to Microsoft and US authorities. A US court authorized the seizure of over 100 Star Blizzard-associated domain names, aiming to disrupt the group’s cyberespionage activities.
7. New Perfctl Malware Infecting Millions of Linux Servers
The “Perfctl” malware, targeting millions of Linux servers globally, exploits over 20,000 misconfigurations to evade detection and execute cryptomining operations. It employs rootkits, hides via TOR communication, and exploits vulnerabilities like CVE-2021-4043. Vigilant monitoring, patching, and runtime protection are essential to counter this persistent threat.
8. Joint Global Operation Leads to Arrests and Sanctions Against LockBit Ransomware and Evil Corp Members
International law enforcement has arrested four individuals and taken down nine servers linked to the LockBit ransomware operation. The crackdown, part of Operation Cronos, targeted LockBit developers and affiliates, including a high-ranking member of the Russian Evil Corp cybercrime group, Aleksandr Ryzhenkov, highlighting their ties to Russian state entities.
9. INTERPOL Captures 8 Suspects in Major Romance and Phishing Fraud Bust in West Africa
INTERPOL’s Operation Contender 2.0 led to the arrest of eight individuals in Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria for phishing scams and romance fraud, including a large phishing scheme targeting Swiss citizens with $1.4 million in losses. The operation highlights international collaboration in combating West African cybercrime.
10.Google Introduces New Pixel Security Updates to Prevent 2G Exploits and Baseband Attacks
Google has enhanced security in its latest Pixel devices to counter baseband security attacks. New safeguards include 2G network disablement, alerts for unencrypted connections, and protection against SMS Blaster fraud. Features like stack canaries, control-flow integrity, and sanitizers help prevent remote code execution and protect sensitive data.