Cyberpolice exposed attackers in scam under the scheme “friend asks for a loan”
The defendants hacked the pages of users of social networks and asked friends for financial assistance on their behalf. Thus, they appropriated more than 500 thousand hryvnias.
The criminal “scheme” was exposed by employees of the Cyber Police Department together with the territorial unit in Sumy region and employees of the Main Directorate of the National Police of the region.
Five locals hacked citizens' social media pages using a method of rough password retrieval (Brute Force attacks). In addition, they bought numbers from mobile operators, which they checked for verification in social networks. In the event that the numbers were tied to social networks, the attackers used the password recovery function using SMS.
Having gained access to the accounts of the victims, they sent messages to their friends asking them to borrow money. According to preliminary estimates, in this way the attackers appropriated more than half a million hryvnias.
Law enforcement officers conducted five searches in the homes of the defendants and seized mobile phones, computer equipment, SIM cards used in illegal activities.
Criminal proceedings under Part 2 of Art. 361 (Unauthorized interference in the operation of computers, automated systems, computer networks or telecommunication networks), part 3 of Art. 190 (Fraud) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Offenders can face up to eight years in prison. The investigation is ongoing.
Procedural management is carried out by the prosecutor's office of the Sumy region.
Cyberpolice remind citizens of the importance of connecting two-factor authentication and using complex passwords separate for each account.
Department of Cyberpolice
National Police of Ukraine
