In our archives: Cybercrime becomes a major threat, warns Interpol
From voice phishing to sextortion
Seven types of “cyber fraud” were targeted, such as voice phishing, sentiment scams, “sextortion” (sexual blackmail) and illegal online gambling generating money laundering.
During this operation, South Korean and Chinese investigators notably dismantled a vast telephone “phishing” network, with a “sophisticated” operating mode: the criminals posed as representatives of the police to extract money. money to their interlocutors. More than 1,900 identified victims lost a total of nearly $1.1 billion.
Investigators also uncovered a new cryptocurrency scam practice. Victims were first offered to buy Tether “stablecoins”, a popular cryptocurrency, via real platforms.
A link received by email then allowed them to create their investor profile, but by clicking they also and unknowingly authorized the scammers to access their portfolio, from which they could then draw as they wished.
“The savings of a lifetime”
“The effects of cybercrime can be devastating: people lose their life savings, businesses are paralyzed and trust in digital and financial systems is shaken,” says Interpol’s new secretary general, Valdecy Urquiza, in the press release.
“Our efforts have not only brought criminals to justice, they have also made significant progress in the interception and recovery of illicit funds,” said Jun Hyeong Lee, director of Interpol’s central office. in South Korea.
For this 2024 operation, Interpol claims to have almost doubled its number of resolved cases in the fight against online fraud (a little over 8,000) compared to that of 2023.
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