Cyber Crime
Top 10 Daily Cybercrime Brief by FCRF [31.07.2024]: 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. Woman and Family Defrauded of Rs 40 Lakhs in Cyber Scam
A Noida family lost Rs 40 lakh in a cyber scam after Rajeev Sahay clicked a Facebook ad for share market investments. Added to a WhatsApp group, he and his children bought shares but faced demands for more money when they tried to withdraw their funds. Police have registered a case.
2. Noida Resident Falls Victim to Rs 34.5 Lakh Online Fraud
Ashish Sharma, a Noida resident, lost Rs 34.5 lakh in a share market investment scam via a mobile app after being added to a WhatsApp group through a Facebook link. The fraudsters, posing as UK investment firm representatives, demanded more money when he attempted withdrawals. Police have filed a case and investigations are ongoing.
3. Prominent Cyber Lawyer Scammed via WhatsApp, Loses Rs 93 Lakh; Police Investigation Underway
A prominent cyber lawyer from Thiruvananthapuram lost Rs 93 lakh to an online fraud syndicate after being deceived into investing in stock market schemes via WhatsApp. The scam, involving a fake app and international calls, spanned June 21–27. The cyber police have initiated an investigation following the lawyer’s complaint.
4. Jharkhand News: Jamtara Cybercriminals Captured in Dhanbad Forest
On July 30, Dhanbad police arrested two cyber fraudsters from Jamtara, operating in the Rangragutu forest. Identified as Vikash Daa and Haribol Daa, they were caught with mobile phones and SIM cards. A third fraudster, Samir Daa, escaped. The police are interrogating the suspects for further information.
5. A family of three loses Rs 39.10 lakh in a cyber scam.
A Panchkula family lost Rs 39.10 lakh in a cyber scam after being lured by a fake share market and cryptocurrency investment group on WhatsApp. Despite seeing initial fake profits, they were asked for more money when attempting to withdraw funds. The police have registered a case and are investigating.
INTERNATIONAL
6. Australia to Mandate Disclosure of Ransom Payments by Businesses to Cyber Criminals
Australia plans to introduce laws requiring businesses to disclose ransomware payments to cybercriminals. The move aims to uncover the extent of the problem, as many ransoms are paid secretly. The legislation targets companies with annual turnovers over $1.96 million, amid rising ransomware attacks since the COVID-19 pandemic.
7. Microsoft Attributes Recent Outage to Cyber Attack
Microsoft resolved a global outage affecting Outlook, Minecraft, and Azure caused by a cyberattack and defense error. The incident lasted nearly 10 hours, impacting services like NatWest and FC Twente. The outage follows a recent major disruption. Microsoft’s shares dropped 2.7% after reporting slower growth.
8. Chaucer Reports Increase in Cyber Attacks on UK Utilities Amid Geopolitical Tensions
Chaucer reported a 586% increase in cyber attacks on UK utility companies in 2023, with 48 incidents compared to seven in 2022. The attacks, mainly involving data theft or ransomware, compromised data of 140,000 individuals. Rising geopolitical tensions are blamed for increased state-backed hacking efforts targeting critical infrastructure.
9. Ukrainian Hackers Disrupt Russian Cyber Firm Avanpost
Russian cybersecurity firm Avapost confirmed a “serious cyberattack” by pro-Ukrainian group Cyber Anarchy Squad, which encrypted over 400 virtual machines, destroyed 60 TB of data, and leaked 390 GB of stolen information. The attack follows a previous disruption of a Russian internet provider by the same group.
10. Poor Security Measures Expose 40 Million Voters’ Details to Hackers
The UK’s Electoral Commission was reprimanded by the ICO for failing to update software and change passwords, leaving millions of voters’ personal details vulnerable. Hackers accessed the system for over a year before being detected in 2022. The ICO found no evidence of data misuse but criticized the commission’s security lapses.