Cyber Crime
Top 10 Daily Cybercrime Brief by FCRF [06.10.2024]: 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. Cyber Fraud Victims Trapped in Financial Limbo by Flawed Official Procedures
In Hyderabad, cyber fraud victims are struggling as their bank accounts are being frozen during investigations. Despite not being involved in fraud, some accounts are locked for months. Victims face long, costly procedures to unfreeze accounts, often requiring travel, court petitions, and payments to recover their funds.
2.Man Scammed of Rs5 Lakh by Online Fraudsters
A 57-year-old trader, Suresh Jindal from Sector 39, lost Rs5 lakh to cyber fraudsters after receiving a call from someone posing as SBI customer care. After sharing his bank details, his phone was hacked, and his SBI and HDFC credit cards were misused. A police complaint has been filed.
3.Jammu Cyber Police Issues Warning on ‘Golden Hike Digital Investment’ Scam
Jammu’s Cyber Police Station has warned the public about a fraudulent investment scheme, “Golden Hike Digital Company,” on Telegram. Scammers gain victims’ trust with small payments, then encourage larger investments before blocking them. The advisory urges caution against unsolicited offers and emphasizes verifying company legitimacy before investing.
4.Madhya Pradesh Cyber Cell Faces Backlog of 3 Lakh Pending Complaints
Madhya Pradesh’s state cyber cell is facing a staff shortage, resulting in a backlog of 300,000 complaints amid rising cyber crimes. With only 230 trained officers available, investigations are hampered. Victims losing over Rs2 lakh must travel to Bhopal to file complaints, as local cells refuse such cases.
ALSO READ: Join The Movement: Registration Open for ‘Cyber Safe Uttar Pradesh’ Event by FCRF on October 17
5.Tamil Nadu Police Recover Rs2 Crore Lost by Businessman in Email Scam
The Tamil Nadu Police’s Cyber Crime Investigation Centre successfully recovered Rs2 crore for Agrigo Trading Pvt Ltd, which fell victim to an email spoofing scam. A fake invoice led the general manager to make a SWIFT payment to a fraudulent account. Police issued a checklist to help identify spoofed emails.
INTERNATIONAL
6.Guardians of the Grid: Defending Europe’s Power Supply Against Cyber-Attacks
Cyber-attacks on Europe’s power infrastructure have surged, prompting researchers to enhance grid resilience. Initiatives like eFORT and ELECTRON leverage AI to detect and mitigate threats. These programs simulate attacks, assess vulnerabilities, and provide tools and training to utilities, aiming to protect energy networks and ensure stability amid increasing cyber risks.
7.Israel Pager Attack Marks Shift Toward Cyber Kinetic Warfare
On September 17, Hezbollah’s pagers exploded across Lebanon, killing 11 and injuring 2,700, followed by walkie talkies causing further casualties. Attributed to Israeli forces, these attacks mark a shift to “cyber kinetic warfare,” targeting personal gadgets to inflict physical damage, raising concerns for civilian and military infrastructure security.
8.Hackers Exploit Fake Trading Apps in ‘Pig Butchering’ Scam to Trap Victims
Scammers are exploiting fraudulent trading apps known as ‘pig butchering,’ targeting users with deceptive schemes. Identified as ‘UniShadowTrade’ malware, these apps, including ‘SBIINT’ for iOS and ‘Finans Insights’ for Android, misled users into fake trading platforms. Thousands fell victim before their removal from app stores.
9.Russia’s FSB Shielded Evil Corp Gang Behind NATO Cyber Attacks
The Russian cybercriminal gang Evil Corp has conducted cyber-attacks against NATO countries with state backing, utilizing familial ties to the FSB for protection after U.S. sanctions in 2019. Despite a decline in influence since then, they continue to develop new ransomware strains for illicit gains.
10.China’s Potentially Catastrophic Cyber-Attack May Have Breached U.S. Wiretaps
Chinese hackers, known as “Salt Typhoon,” have executed a significant cyberattack on U.S. broadband providers, potentially compromising systems used for government wiretap requests. This breach, affecting companies like Verizon and AT&T, poses serious risks to national security and law enforcement operations targeting Chinese agents, raising alarms over sensitive data exposure.