Cyber Crime
Top 10 Daily Cybercrime Brief by FCRF [22.05.2024]: 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. Indians Forced Into Cyber Fraud in Cambodia ‘Revolt’, Arrested: Andhra Police
Andhra Pradesh police reported that around 300 Indians trafficked to Cambodia for cybercrime revolted against their Chinese handlers on May 20, leading to their arrest. Among them, 150 are from Visakhapatnam. Three traffickers were arrested in Vizag, and efforts are underway to repatriate the victims.
2. 31-Year-Old Arrested for Allowing Cheaters to Use His Bank Account
Mumbai police arrested Ashok Kumar Pasi for letting fraudsters use his bank account to park Rs 34.5 lakh defrauded from a cybercrime victim. The victim, a homemaker, was lured into a share trading scam via WhatsApp. Pasi, already in custody for a similar case, was linked through bank account analysis.
3. Mumbai Women Lose Rs 53 Lakh in ‘Task Fraud’ Scam: Latest Scam Decoded
The ‘task fraud’ scam, rampant since 2023, dupes victims through WhatsApp and Telegram with fake part-time job offers. Victims initially earn small amounts for simple tasks, then are persuaded to invest larger sums, losing substantial money. Mumbai victims lost Rs 53 lakh, with Pune and Bengaluru facing major financial losses.
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4. Nine Arrested in Gurugram for Supplying Fake SIM Cards to Cyber Criminals
Nine people were arrested for supplying fake SIM cards to cyber criminals, who used them to defraud individuals of Rs 37.13 lakh. Police recovered 54 fake SIM cards and linked the accused to nine cyber fraud cases in Gurugram. The arrested individuals hail from Gujarat, Bihar, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Haryana.
5. Alert! IRS Officer Victimized by Online Reward Points Fraud via Deceptive Messages
A 48-year-old IRS officer lost Rs 48,902 to an online reward point fraud after clicking a deceptive link and entering her OTP. She reported the incident to the Central Division Cyber Crime Police, who are investigating the case and tracing the perpetrator through the provided mobile number.
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6. Apple’s Big Move: Rs 584 Billion Saved from Cybercriminals, 1.7 Million Apps Rejected
Since launching the App Store in 2008, Apple’s security measures have saved users USD 7 billion (INR 584 billion) from 2020 to 2023. In 2023, Apple blocked 14 million stolen credit cards, 1.7 million fraudulent app submissions, and terminated 374 million developer and customer accounts to prevent fraud.
7. Chinese Nationals Arrested for Laundering $73 Million in Pig Butchering Crypto Scam
The U.S. Department of Justice charged Chinese nationals Daren Li and Yicheng Zhang for laundering $73 million through a crypto investment scam. They managed an international syndicate that transferred funds via shell companies and cryptocurrencies. Both face up to 20 years in prison per count if convicted.
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8. Malware Delivered via Cloud Services Exploits Unicode Trick to Deceive Users
The CLOUD#REVERSER attack campaign utilizes legitimate cloud storage services like Google Drive and Dropbox to deploy malicious payloads. It begins with a phishing email containing an executable disguised as a Microsoft Excel file. The executable drops multiple payloads, including VB scripts and PowerShell scripts, to establish persistence and connect to actor-controlled cloud accounts. These scripts facilitate the downloading and execution of additional malicious files from the cloud, enabling sustained access and data exfiltration. This tactic underscores the evolving threat landscape, with threat actors leveraging legitimate platforms to obfuscate their activities and evade detection.
9. Western Sydney University Data Breach Exposes Student Data
Western Sydney University (WSU) experienced a data breach in its Microsoft 365 and SharePoint environment, affecting around 7,500 individuals. The breach, discovered in January 2024, involved unauthorized access to email accounts and files. While no ransomware or extortion demands were made, WSU obtained an injunction to prevent data dissemination.
10. Zoom Adds Post-Quantum End-to-End Encryption to Video Meetings
Zoom has globally introduced post-quantum end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for Zoom Meetings, enhancing security against potential future quantum computing threats. This encryption, utilizing Kyber768 quantum-resistant encryption, ensures that data transmitted between servers and clients remains undecipherable. Zoom aims to stay ahead in security measures, addressing potential decryption risks.