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Cambodia Deports 19 Japanese Cybercrime Scam Suspects

Cambodia has deported 19 Japanese nationals for allegedly running online scams. According to reports, these individuals were involved in a cybercrime operation that used telephone calls to deceive people and steal their money. This incident highlights the need for improved cybersecurity measures to protect individuals and businesses from such scams.

The suspects were arrested in Cambodia after Japanese authorities requested their extradition. They were accused of running a call center from Cambodia to target people in Japan. The scam involved posing as officials from banks, tax offices, or other organizations, and asking victims to transfer money or reveal their personal information.

The arrests were part of a joint operation between Japanese and Cambodian law enforcement agencies. The suspects were charged with violating Japan's organized crime laws, as well as Cambodia's immigration laws. The Japanese authorities have commended the Cambodian government for their cooperation in this matter.

The incident highlights the vulnerabilities of online systems and the need for individuals and businesses to be vigilant. Cybercriminals often use social engineering tactics to trick people into revealing their personal information, such as passwords or bank account details. They may also use malware to gain access to computer systems and steal sensitive data.

To protect against such threats, it is important to implement robust cybersecurity measures. This may include using strong passwords, encrypting data, and regularly updating software and security systems. Additionally, individuals should be wary of unsolicited calls or emails, and should never disclose personal information unless they are certain of the identity and legitimacy of the caller.

In conclusion, the deportation of 19 Japanese nationals for their involvement in cybercrime highlights the need for improved cybersecurity measures. Online scams and fraud are a growing threat, and it is essential that individuals and businesses take steps to protect themselves against such threats. By remaining vigilant and implementing robust cybersecurity measures, we can help to safeguard our personal and financial information from cybercriminals.

U.S. Citizens Lost $39.5 Billion to Phone Frauds Alone Over the Past Year

 

A recent study estimates that scams have increased threefold in the US in the last 12 months resulting in the loss of $39.5 billion, which is the highest number registered since Truecaller, Swedish caller identification and spam blocking app, began researching scam and spam calls in the U.S. eight years ago. 

According to the report, which was undertaken in partnership with The Harris Poll in March 2022, 33% of US citizens reported having fallen victim to phone scams, and 20% on more than one occasion. 55.6% of those who fell victim to a phone scam were men, compared to only 42.2% of those who were women. 

Furthermore, men aged 65 and above, and Hispanics were more likely to fall for scams and phone frauds than those aged below or belonging to any other ethnicity. Nearly, 74% of Hispanic people were targeted and lost money in the last 12 months when compared to Black or White adult individuals.

Approximately 63% of Americans feel like they may miss legitimate calls due to the fear of spam calls. To protect themselves, 43% of people reported they downloaded a spam blocker and/or caller ID. A whopping 86% of Americans said only pick up when the caller is recognizable, 60% have stopped picking up calls altogether and have shifted to other methods of communicating. These include texts, emails, social media apps, faxes, etc. 

To mitigate risks, adults preferred to take action by downloading Spam Blocker/Caller ID apps while people above the age of 65 preferred blocking their credit cards or altering account numbers after being scammed. 

The study suggests that despite the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) efforts to regulate via the STIR/SHAKEN framework (a set of FCC standards aimed at protecting Americans from robocalls/scammers) nearly 68.4 million Americans fell victim to at least a phone scam in the last 12 months, indicating fraudsters are bypassing government regulation and finding more sophisticated methods to target users. 

“The findings from this year are concerning and shed light on the fact that fraudsters and scammers continue to outsmart increased government regulation. Additionally, with many robocalls coming from overseas, the increase in regulation will need to work in parallel with technological advancements provided by caller ID and spam-blocking apps, such as Truecaller,” stated Alan Mamedi, CEO of Truecaller. 

India: 4th most spammed nation 

According to Truecaller’s Global Scam Report 2021, India received 4th position in spam sales and telemarketing calls and was placed right behind Brazil, Peru, and Ukraine. 

The sales-related calls made up a vast majority (93.5%) of all incoming spam calls in the country. The report also made a special mention of a single number in India that apparently made over 202 Mn spam calls – more than 664,000 calls every day or 27,000 calls every hour.

Scammers Disguised as Tesco are Stealing Data Via Phone Scam, Warns Police

 

Wales Police have warned residents of a new phone fraud in which criminals try to trick customers for hundreds of pounds. The scam is brought about by ongoing COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, a time when shopping online and clicking and collecting services have increased enormously. Several people have reported a telephone scam to Dyfed Powys Police, stating that acting fraudsters seemed to be from Tesco. Victims reported that an automatic call has been sent to inform individuals that an order has been placed with Tesco and that £350 is debited. The automatic message continues to say, “if this is not the right amount, please press 1 to go through to our fraud team.” 

Once the frightened victims press ‘1’, they are brought to a scammer who seeks to get as much personal information, including bank details, from them as possible. The police had also cautioned that the scammers seem to be extremely advanced and genuine. Therefore they advised: “If you receive a call like this, it’s best to hang up and either check your Tesco online account yourself or call Tesco directly from a number you have obtained.” 

All in all, the change over the past year to online services and the health and economic complexities resulted in the fraudsters escalating scams. Barclay’s data suggest that impersonation is the highest common form of scam (29 percent ). 

Commenting on the story, Ray Walsh, ProPrivacy's digital data privacy specialist, commented: “These scams rely on clever scripts to convince people that they are being defrauded, so that worried victims hand over sensitive personal data, including their bank details.” 

The fraudsters may even try to persuade the victim to install the software for remote access onto their pc to help delete malware that allowed fake fraud to happen, as per the reports. Anyone who wants to do so will enable cyber-criminals to have direct access to their PC to install any software that steals one’s data. If users receive such a call, they should either verify their own online Tesco account or call Tesco immediately from a number they have received. 

Experts stated that “We remind everyone never to provide their personal information or payment details to anybody who calls them out of the blue, even if they claim to be from a huge brand like Tesco. If you have an order placed with Tesco and you receive a call like this which concerns you, hang up and make an inquiry with Tesco directly to check on the status of your delivery.”