"Ukraine Takes Down Cybercrime Group Hitting Crypto Fraud Victims"

The National Police of Ukraine (NPU) shut down a network of call centers used by a cybercrime group focused on financial scams and targeting victims of cryptocurrency scams under the guise of assisting them in recovering their stolen funds. The fraudsters behind these illegal call centers are also suspected of tricking Ukrainian and European Union citizens interested in cryptocurrency, securities, gold, and oil investments. They used software and high-tech equipment to spoof the phone numbers of state banking organizations throughout this cross-border fraud operation. During the investigation, it was discovered that the call center employees pretended to be employees of these state banking institutions and extorted confidential data from citizens' bank cards. The scheme's organizers used previously created websites and platforms for exchange trading of currency and cryptocurrency, securities, gold, and oil to attract funds from foreign citizens, ensuring the receipt of excess profits in a short period of time. While claiming to be members of the "Community of cryptocurrency brokers," the attackers also used contact information from previous victims of other cryptocurrency scammers to convince them that they could help them recover their stolen funds in exchange for a commission. Following authorized searches at the locations of multiple call centers linked to this cybercrime operation and the seizure of computer equipment, mobile phones, and data records, Ukrainian law enforcement officers confirmed these illegal activities. Those involved in this fraud scheme are being investigated for membership in an organized criminal group, fraud, and the use of malicious software, and face up to 12 years in prison. This article continues to discuss NPU's takedown of the cybercrime group. 

Bleeping Computer reports "Ukraine Takes Down Cybercrime Group Hitting Crypto Fraud Victims"