Cyber police exposed a group of individuals in the appropriation of money of 70,000 citizens through phishing
The defendants searched the victims using phishing websites disguised as mobile account replenishment services. The predetermined amount of losses reaches five million hryvnias. Criminals can face up to eight years in prison for what they do.
The offenses were exposed by employees of the Cyber Police Department together with the Main Investigation Department of the National Police. Five defendants were involved in the illegal activities.
The organizer of the scheme created and administered more than 40 phishing web resources to obtain citizens' bank card data. The design of the fraudulent sites was similar to the sites of mobile operators.
Users, wishing to replenish a mobile account or make a transfer, entered bank card data on phishing sites. Thus, the attacker received the payment information of more than 70 thousand people. In the future, using this data, the group members appropriated citizens' money. The
organizer also used paid marketing and analytical resources to bring these sites to the top positions of search services, as well as advertise services on social networks.
Another member of the group, using its own servers, ensured the proper operation of the infrastructure of fraudulent web resources.
To appropriate the money of the victims, the organizer attracted three citizens who acted as so-called dropouts (withdrew and made transfers of funds obtained fraudulently). From each fraudulent operation, they received a percentage of “profit”.
According to preliminary data, the damage caused to the victim reaches more than 5 million hryvnias.
Law enforcement officers conducted searches at the places of registration and residence of the defendants. As a result, computer equipment, mobile phones, flash drives, bank cards and more than 2 million hryvnias in cash were seized. According to this fact, criminal proceedings were opened under Part 2 of Art.
361 (Unauthorized interference in the operation of computers, automated systems, computer networks or telecommunication networks) and part 3 of Art. 190 (Fraud) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The defendants may face up to eight years in prison for their actions. Procedural guidance is carried out by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine. Cyberpolice reminds you of the
need to carefully check the URL, because any inaccuracies may mean that the user has come to a phishing site.
Do not enter on third-party resources and do not tell anyone your bank card details, especially CVV, PIN and card expiration.
Cyber Police Department of the National Police of Ukraine
