Latest news with #Cybercrime
Online Citizen
3 days ago
- Online Citizen
At least S$379,000 lost to scammers impersonating MOM officers since May
SINGAPORE: At least S$379,000 has been lost to scammers impersonating officers from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) since May, the police reported on 3 June. The losses are linked to at least six cases. The scam typically begins when victims receive unsolicited calls from individuals pretending to be MOM officers. The scammers inform the victims that they employ workers involved in criminal activities or immigration-related issues, such as money laundering, overstaying in the country, or having an expired work permit or visa. When victims deny any knowledge of employing such workers, the call is transferred to another person claiming to be an officer from a different agency, such as the police or the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). This second scammer then accuses the victims of being involved in criminal activities. Victims are coerced into making bank transfers or handing over cash for 'investigation' and 'safekeeping.' In some instances, they are told to declare their financial assets, report to the scammers daily, and avoid speaking to anyone about the ongoing situation. The scam is typically discovered when victims are unable to contact the scammers or verify their situation with the police through official channels. In some cases, scammers have told victims that they could use the Singapore Government Directory (SGDI) to verify the identity of public officers. However, the police clarified that the SGDI is not a valid tool for verifying officials. They also emphasised that government officials will never ask people to transfer money, disclose banking details, install mobile apps from unofficial stores, or transfer calls to the police. According to the Singapore Police Force's Annual Scams and Cybercrime Brief 2024, there were 1,504 reported cases of government officials impersonation scams in 2024, amounting to at least S$151.3 million in losses. The majority of victims were aged between 50 and 64, comprising 28.6% of the cases. Scammers predominantly used phone and WhatsApp to contact victims. For more information or if in doubt, individuals are advised to call the police hotline at 1800-255-0000 or dial 999 for urgent police assistance. An official report can also be submitted online at
Reuters
6 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Pro-Russian, anti-Israeli hackers pose biggest cybercrime threats in Germany
BERLIN, June 3 (Reuters) - Cybercrime in Germany rose to a record level last year, driven by hacker attacks from pro-Russian and anti-Israeli groups, the BKA Federal Crime Office reported on Tuesday as the government said it would boost countermeasures to combat it. "Cybercrime is an increasing threat to our security," said Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt. "It is getting more aggressive but our counter-strategies are also becoming more professional," he said. Some 131,391 cases of cybercrime took place in Germany last year and a further 201,877 cases were committed from abroad or an unknown location, a BKA report said. The actors behind the hacker attacks on German targets were primarily either pro-Russian or anti-Israeli, said the BKA, adding targets were mostly public and federal institutions. Ransomware, when criminals copy and encrypt data, is one of the main threats, said the BKA, with 950 companies and institutes reporting cases in 2024. German digital association Bitkom said damage caused by cyberattacks here totalled 178.6 billion euros ($203.87 billion) last year, some 30.4 billion euros more than in the previous year. Dobrindt said the government planned to extend the legal capabilities authorities could use to combat cybercrime and set higher security standards for companies. ($1 = 0.8760 euros)
Times of Oman
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Shura committee reviews amendments to Cultural Heritage Law, discusses draft law on cybercrime
Muscat: The Legislative and Legal Committee of the Shura Council held its 17th meeting as part of the second annual session of the Tenth Term (2023–2027). The meeting was chaired by Dr. Ahmed Ali Al Saadi, Head of the Committee, in the presence of their Excellencies members of the committee. During the session, the Committee reviewed the draft amendments to the Cultural Heritage Law, which had been referred by the Media, Tourism, and Culture Committee. The referring committee had previously conducted an in-depth study of the law's articles and provisions, emphasising the importance of aligning the legislation with regional and international developments in heritage protection, especially as the Sultanate of Oman continues to expand its efforts to register archaeological sites and cultural landmarks on the World Heritage List. The Committee also discussed the draft Law on Combating Cybercrime, which was referred to the Council by the government. The proposed legislation is part of the national response to the growing challenges in the cyber domain and seeks to keep pace with rapid technological transformations that pose new threats to individuals and institutions across the Sultanate. The head of the Committee emphasised the importance of the proposed law in enhancing the legislative framework for cybersecurity. He highlighted the need for the law to include effective tools to combat cybercrime while maintaining a balance between protecting society and safeguarding individual rights, taking into account future technological developments that may impact the law's implementation. The Committee is currently conducting a comprehensive legal review of both draft laws, in coordination with the relevant authorities, in preparation for submitting detailed reports to the Council for further discussion in upcoming sessions.
Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Indian Express
‘Godmother' Santokben's kin Hiralba Jadeja sent to two-day police remand
The Porbandar police on Wednesday said they have received a two-day remand of Hiralba Jadeja, the sister-in-law of late Santokben 'Godmother' Jadeja and the aunt of incumbent Kutiyana MLA Kandhal Jadeja, in a case pertaining to alleged possession of monetary proceeds of cyber crime stashed in benami bank accounts. The proceeds are alleged to have been deposited and then withdrawn by her and her accomplices. Hiralba, Hitesh Bhima Odedara, Parth Songela, Mohan Ranchhod Vaza, Ajay Mansukh Chauhan, and Raju Mer, were booked under IPC Sections 120b (criminal conspiracy), 411 (dishonesty receiving stolen property), 413 (habitually dealing in stolen property), and 420 (cheating). They were also booked under Section 66(d) of the Information Technology Act in an FIR filed on May 15 on the basis of a complaint by a Sub-Inspector of Cybercrime Police station in Porbandar, on behalf of the state. While Hiralba and Hitesh were already in judicial custody in another case pertaining to alleged abduction and attempted extortion of Rs 70 lakh from a family, the other four accused are yet to be apprehended, said Deputy SP Surjeet Mahedu, who is supervising both the cases. Hiralba, who is the widow of former MLA Bhura Munja Jadeja, was along with Hitesh, arrested by the Porbandar Cybercrime Police on Tuesday. On Wednesday, they were producted in court, which granted the police two-day remand of both the accused. Speaking on the investigation, DySP Mahedu said that while the FIR had mentioned that the police had identified 14 benami accounts controlled by Jadeja and others, this number has since increased to more than 50 — almost all of which had been mentioned in complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP) and the Samanvaya Portal. While multiple bank accounts were registered in the name of poor people and labourers, several were registered in the names of the accused in the case. None of these bank accounts were found registered in Hiralba's name. 'We have also scanned CCTV footage which showed innocent people providing their documents to the accused who opened bank accounts in their name only to take them to the bank later to withdraw sums of money from those accounts,' said the DySP. Speaking on Hiralba's role, DySP Mahedu said that they had found proof against her from WhatsApp chats and Call Details Records (CDR). The police have also detected transactions through firms, which are under investigation. 'We have also found direct evidence in the form of cheques and other bank accounts in which proceeds of crime were deposited. Further, we have sought details of email IDs being operated through VPN that were traced to Dubai and other places abroad. These are subject of technical investigation,' said Mahedu. Further investigation in the case is underway.
New Indian Express
20-05-2025
- New Indian Express
New E-Zero FIR will help get hold of cyber criminals quickly, says Shah
NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday announced that the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has introduced the new e-Zero FIR initiative to nab cyber criminals with unprecedented speed. Sharing details of the online facility brought in by the I4C, Home Minister Amit Shah said he had launched the facility as a pilot project for Delhi. 'The new system will automatically convert cyber financial crimes filed on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) and helpline number 1930 to FIRs, initially above the threshold limit of Rs 10 lakh,' he said, adding that soon the initiative will be extended to the entire country. 'The MHA's I4C introduced the new e-Zero FIR initiative to nab any criminal with unprecedented speed. Launched as a pilot project for Delhi, the new system will automatically convert cyber financial crimes filed at NCRP or 1930 to FIRs, initially above the threshold limit of Rs 10 lakh. The new system, which will drive investigations swiftly cracking down on cybercriminals, will soon be extended to the entire nation,' Shah said.
