Latest news with #NealJetton
The Sun
20-05-2025
- The Sun
Phishing and online scams dominate global cybercrime landscape
KUALA LUMPUR: Online scams and phishing remain the most prevalent global cyber threats, with criminals leveraging increasingly sophisticated tactics to deceive victims, said INTERPOL's Cybercrime Directorate Dr Neal Jetton. He said most cybercrimes observed across Asia and globally stem from social engineering attacks, such as phishing, ransomware and business email compromise scams. 'Phishing-related scams are likely the most widespread cyber threat today, not just in Malaysia or the Asia Pacific, but globally. 'These often involve emails or messages that appear legitimate, whether for romantic, business, or financial opportunities,' he said at a press conference after the opening of the inaugural Cyber Games 2025 today. Jetton, who is based in Singapore, stressed that cybercrime is both a regional and global challenge, noting that approximately 75 to 80 percent of cyber incidents worldwide involve a human element, most commonly through phishing. Phishing is a form of cyberattack in which criminals impersonate trusted sources via emails or messages to deceive individuals into disclosing sensitive information, such as passwords, financial credentials, or personal data. The urgency of the issue is evident in Malaysia's statistics, with ransomware incidents rising by a staggering 78 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024, reflecting the increasing complexity and scale of cyber threats locally. When asked about Malaysia's capacity to tackle such threats, Jetton commended the Royal Malaysian Police for their dedication and proactive efforts in combating cybercrime. 'I've had several interactions with Malaysian police, and I can speak very positively about their efforts. Cybercrime in general is just very difficult,' he said. He added that INTERPOL continues to work closely with Malaysia and expressed hope that this collaboration will further strengthen in future efforts to combat cybercrime. Jetton highlighted artificial intelligence (AI) and encrypted technologies as key areas of concern, noting that law enforcement agencies often face challenges in keeping up with the fast-evolving tools employed by cybercriminals. 'My team focuses a lot on how we can keep up with these technologies, though we're not necessarily the subject matter experts in AI to help us respond effectively,' he said.
The Star
20-05-2025
- The Star
Phishing, online scams dominate global cybercrime landscape, says Interpol
KUALA LUMPUR: Online scams and phishing remain the most prevalent global cyber threats, with criminals leveraging increasingly sophisticated tactics to deceive victims, said Interpol's cybercrime directorate Dr Neal Jetton. He said most cybercrimes observed across Asia and globally stem from social engineering attacks, such as phishing, ransomware and business email compromise scams. "Phishing-related scams are likely the most widespread cyber threat today, not just in Malaysia or the Asia Pacific, but globally. "These often involve emails or messages that appear legitimate, whether for romantic, business, or financial opportunities," he said at a press conference after the opening of the inaugural Cyber Games 2025 on Tuesday (May 20). Jetton, who is based in Singapore, stressed that cybercrime was both a regional and global challenge, noting that approximately 75 to 80 per cent of cyber incidents worldwide involve a human element, most commonly through phishing. Phishing is a form of cyberattack in which criminals impersonate trusted sources via emails or messages to deceive individuals into disclosing sensitive information, such as passwords, financial credentials, or personal data. The urgency of the issue is evident in Malaysia's statistics, with ransomware incidents rising by a staggering 78 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024, reflecting the increasing complexity and scale of cyber threats locally. When asked about Malaysia's capacity to tackle such threats, Jetton commended the Royal Malaysia Police for their dedication and proactive efforts in combating cybercrime. "I've had several interactions with Malaysian police, and I can speak very positively about their efforts. Cybercrime in general is just very difficult,' he said. He added that Interpol continues to work closely with Malaysia and expressed hope that this collaboration will further strengthen in future efforts to combat cybercrime. Jetton highlighted artificial intelligence (AI) and encrypted technologies as key areas of concern, noting that law enforcement agencies often face challenges in keeping up with the fast-evolving tools employed by cybercriminals. "My team focuses a lot on how we can keep up with these technologies, though we're not necessarily the subject matter experts in AI to help us respond effectively," he said.- Bernama
Barnama
20-05-2025
- Barnama
Phishing And Online Scams Dominate Global Cybercrime Landscape
INTERPOL's Director of the Cybercrime Directorate, Dr Neal Jetton, speaks at a press conference after officiating the opening of Cyber Games 2025 today. KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (Bernama) -- Online scams and phishing remain the most prevalent global cyber threats, with criminals leveraging increasingly sophisticated tactics to deceive victims, said INTERPOL's Cybercrime Directorate Dr Neal Jetton. He said most cybercrimes observed across Asia and globally stem from social engineering attacks, such as phishing, ransomware and business email compromise scams. "Phishing-related scams are likely the most widespread cyber threat today, not just in Malaysia or the Asia Pacific, but globally. 'These often involve emails or messages that appear legitimate, whether for romantic, business, or financial opportunities," he said at a press conference after the opening of the inaugural Cyber Games 2025 today. Jetton, who is based in Singapore, stressed that cybercrime is both a regional and global challenge, noting that approximately 75 to 80 percent of cyber incidents worldwide involve a human element, most commonly through phishing. Phishing is a form of cyberattack in which criminals impersonate trusted sources via emails or messages to deceive individuals into disclosing sensitive information, such as passwords, financial credentials, or personal data. The urgency of the issue is evident in Malaysia's statistics, with ransomware incidents rising by a staggering 78 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024, reflecting the increasing complexity and scale of cyber threats locally. When asked about Malaysia's capacity to tackle such threats, Jetton commended the Royal Malaysian Police for their dedication and proactive efforts in combating cybercrime. 'I've had several interactions with Malaysian police, and I can speak very positively about their efforts. Cybercrime in general is just very difficult,' he said.
New Straits Times
20-05-2025
- New Straits Times
Interpol: Phishing and AI scams fuel cyber threat surge in Asia
KUALA LUMPUR: Online scams, phishing, ransomware, and malware continue to be the most prevalent cyber threats across Asia, according to Interpol's Cybercrime Directorate. Its director Dr Neal Jetton said phishing scams — often disguised as legitimate communications related to relationships, business deals or financial opportunities — had become the leading form of cybercrime globally. "These scams are not confined to Malaysia or the Asia-Pacific region alone — they represent a global epidemic. In many instances, cybercriminals operating in one part of the world are targeting victims on entirely different continents," he said during the Cyber Games 2025 press conference held here today. He said that about 75 to 80 per cent of cybercrime worldwide involved a human element, with phishing and social engineering comprising the majority of such incidents. "We estimate that roughly 80 per cent of all cybercrime stems from human manipulation — whether through emails, messages, or platforms designed to deceive users into divulging sensitive information," he said. Despite the increasing complexity of cyber threats, Jetton commended Malaysian law enforcement agencies for their commitment and close cooperation with Interpol. "I've had the privilege of working with the Malaysian police and can confidently say they are diligent, progressive, and well-versed in the evolving threat landscape. "Naturally, as with any country — including the US and Singapore — there is always room for more resources. However, Malaysia certainly ranks among the regional leaders in this area," he added. Looking ahead, Jetton said that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), in-game encryption, and other digital tools could be exploited by cybercriminals. "Generative AI, for instance, has the potential to significantly enhance phishing and impersonation scams. Law enforcement agencies often struggle to keep pace with such rapid advances, so close collaboration with private sector experts and academia is essential," he said. He also said Interpol was revitalising its Cybercrime Expert Group — a global platform that will unite specialists from its 196 member countries, including Malaysia. "We are extending invitations to cybercrime experts from law enforcement agencies worldwide to join this initiative. There will be regular virtual meetings and an in-person session later this year. "This initiative offers a crucial opportunity for nations to share intelligence, strengthen partnerships, and collectively tackle the evolving threat of cybercrime," he said.
Zawya
25-03-2025
- Zawya
Kaspersky supports INTERPOL-led operation Red Card, resulting in over 300 arrests
Kaspersky has recently contributed its threat intelligence data to an INTERPOL-led law enforcement action that aimed to disrupt cross-border criminal networks across the African region that cause significant harm to individuals and businesses. With seven participating countries in Africa, operation Red Card resulted in the arrest of 306 individuals suspected of links to cybercrimes such as mobile banking, investment and messaging app scams, and seizure of 1,842 devices. Conducted from November 2024 to February 2025, operation Red Card was delivered through INTERPOL's African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC) and brought together law enforcers from Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Togo and Zambia. The operation conduct was preceded by a threat intelligence data exchange, which was enriched by INTERPOL and its private sector partners, including Kaspersky. Kaspersky has shared with the law enforcement agency the results of an analysis of samples of a malicious Android application that targeted users in African countries along with the data on related infrastructure. Altogether, the cybercriminal cases uncovered by the Red Card participants have made prey more than 5,000 people. Among operation highlights were: Nigeria: Nigerian police arrested 130 people, including 113 foreign nationals, for their alleged involvement in cyber-enabled scams such as online casino and investment fraud. The suspects, who converted proceeds to digital assets to conceal their tracks, were recruited from different countries to run the illegal schemes in as many languages as possible. Zambia: officers apprehended 14 suspected members of a criminal syndicate that hacked into victims' phones. The scam involved sending a message containing a malicious link which, when clicked, installed malware on the device. This allowed hackers to take control of the messaging account, and ultimately the phone, giving them access to banking apps. The hackers were also able to use the victim's messaging apps to share the malicious link within conversations and groups, enabling the scam to spread. Rwanda: Rwandan authorities arrested 45 members of a criminal network for their involvement in social engineering scams that defrauded victims of over USD 305,000 in 2024 alone. Their tactics included posing as telecommunications employees and claiming fake 'jackpot' wins to extract sensitive information and gain access to victims' mobile banking accounts. Another method involved impersonating an injured family member to ask relatives for financial assistance towards hospital bills. South Africa: local authorities arrested 40 individuals and seized more than 1,000 SIM cards, along with 53 desktops and towers linked to a sophisticated SIM box fraud scheme. This setup, which reroutes international calls as local ones, is commonly used by criminals to carry out large-scale SMS phishing attacks. Neal Jetton, INTERPOL's Director of the Cybercrime Directorate, said: ' The success of Operation Red Card demonstrates the power of international cooperation in combating cybercrime, which knows no borders and can have devastating effects on individuals and communities. The recovery of significant assets and devices, as well as the arrest of key suspects, sends a strong message to cybercriminals that their activities will not go unpunished.' 'Kaspersky is proud to be part of this collaborative effort led by INTERPOL. The evolving threat landscape in Africa requires a multi-stakeholder dialogue and joint efforts of public and private organizations to address the cybersecurity challenges the region faces today. The Red Card operation is a notable example of such cooperation, showcasing how the expertise of private companies coupled with extensive investigative capacities of law enforcers can foster a more cyber-resilient environment,' comments Yuliya Shlychkova, Vice President, Global Public Affairs, Kaspersky. Kaspersky and INTERPOL have a vast record of joint operations aimed at combating cybercrime in the African region, with Kaspersky having supported two editions of INTERPOL's Africa Cyber Surge operations. Just recently, Kaspersky was also a contributor to INTERPOL's joint action with AFRIPOL, which last year became the company's official partner in fostering a more cybersafe climate across Africa. This partnership focuses on sharing Kaspersky's extensive data on local cyberthreats and cybercrime trends in the region. About Kaspersky Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. With over a billion devices protected to date from emerging cyberthreats and targeted attacks, Kaspersky's deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company's comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection, specialized security products and services, as well as Cyber Immune solutions to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. We help over 200,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at
