Top 10 Technology Crimes From Around The World [22.04.2024] Compiled By Futurecrime Researchers

Protect Yourself: 6 Walmart Shopper Scams and How to Avoid Them

Walmart shoppers face a myriad of scams, including fake job offers, gift card schemes, and deceptive delivery alerts. Fraudsters impersonate Walmart in phishing emails and fake giveaways, aiming to steal personal information. Scammers also sell counterfeit gift cards on online marketplaces and use fake surveys to harvest sensitive data. Shoppers should exercise caution, avoiding instant job offers and demands for payment via gift cards. Verify suspicious communications directly through Walmart’s official channels to avoid falling victim to these increasingly sophisticated scams.

Police Raid Manchester Airport to Dismantle ‘Industrial Scale’ Fraud Operation

Police apprehend suspects at Manchester Airport linked to an online scamming site defrauding 70,000 victims globally. LabHost, established in 2021, facilitated phishing websites to extract personal information, with over 40,000 fraudulent sites created by 2024. Subscribers paid monthly fees to access fake profiles of 170 companies. Law enforcement’s Operation Stargrew contacted 25,000 UK victims, aiming to deter further offenses. This operation, along with others like Operation Elaborate, targets international fraud networks, showcasing collaborative efforts between law enforcement and private sectors to combat online fraud, emphasized by Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Dame Lynne Owens and National Economic Crime Centre Director Adrian Searle.

Global cyber gang implicated in large-scale fraud apprehended by law enforcement

Law enforcement globally dismantled a gang accused of exploiting a technology service to execute fraudulent text message schemes, resulting in the arrest of 37 individuals. Victims are being contacted. Authorities highlight that younger individuals, accustomed to the internet, were prime targets for the phishing scam. The technology facilitated scammers, even without technical expertise, to inundate victims with deceptive messages, prompting online payments. The gang’s site, LabHost, was the focus of police action, aiding criminals in sending messages and guiding victims to counterfeit websites resembling genuine online payment or shopping platforms.

Euro-Med calls for investigation into tech companies’ involvement in Israeli killings of Gaza civilians

Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor urges investigation into tech giants’ role in Israeli violence against Gaza civilians. They stress accountability for any complicity or failure to safeguard user data. Palestinians targeted by Israel based on social media activity, despite lacking military involvement, as documented by the group. Israel allegedly employs AI-backed systems to unlawfully surveil Palestinians. Collaboration between Google and Israel, such as Project Nimbus, allegedly facilitates increased monitoring and illegal data collection, perpetuating denial, persecution, and crimes against Palestinians, according to the monitor.

Pig Butchering Scams 

A pig-butchering scam is an investment fraud promising high returns in a short time. Scammers gain victims’ trust through social media, often posing as professionals or romantic interests. They pitch fake investment opportunities persuasively, urging urgent investment. Once funds are collected via digital platforms, scammers vanish, making recovery difficult. This scheme preys on victims’ financial aspirations and emotional vulnerabilities, trapping them in a cycle of deceit. The process involves gaining trust, pitching investments, collecting money, and disappearing, exploiting victims’ trust and desire for financial success. Recognizing the scam becomes challenging as victims become emotionally and financially invested.

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