Latest news with #cyberfraud
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Video shows Kenya protests, not mass runaways from Cambodia's internet sweatshops
Cambodian authorities arrested thousands in raids on internet scam compounds in July, but a video showing people running along a highway does not show them fleeing scam centres. The clip was actually filmed during a demonstration in Kenya, where protesters held running battles with police. "Mass escape from scam parks in Cambodia," reads the simplified Chinese text over the clip shared on July 19 on Red Note. The 45-second video showed a group of people running on a highway. It surfaced after Cambodian authorities said 2,000 people were arrested in raids, including at least 226 Chinese nationals, after Prime Minister Hun Manet ordered law enforcement and the military to clamp down on scam centres in the country in July (archived link). Workers at the centres typically use romance or business cons to defraud web users of an estimated $40 billion annually, but many say they were trafficked or lured there under false pretences. The false claim also spread elsewhere on Bilibili. Some users appear to believe the clip was filmed in Cambodia. "They are all victims," one user wrote. Another commented, "The cyber-fraud is finally over." A reverse image search on Google showed a clip showing the same scene was uploaded on TikTok on June 26 with hashtags that read "maandamano" -- or "protest" in Swahili -- and the date June 25 (archived link). The clip was shared after protesters held rallies on the day to mark a year since massive anti-government demonstrations before they turned violent, with eight killed and at least 400 injured as protesters held running battles with police (archived link). Google Street View imagery also showed the clip was filmed along Thika Road in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi (archived link). AFP has also previously fact-checked the same video. Several Kenyan media outlets mentioned the thoroughfare as one of the protest sites in their reporting, including Citizen TV Kenya (archived here). The Daily Nation published photos where the four-lane highway can be seen several times (archived link). AFP has debunked another false claim about scam centres in Cambodia here.
The Herald
21-07-2025
- The Herald
Gqeberha bank employee jailed for cyber fraud
A 35-year-old woman has been sentenced to five years' imprisonment for her role in what was described as a meticulously orchestrated fraud scheme involving the unlawful access and manipulation of a customer's banking profile. The Gqeberha regional court had found Lusanda Gloria Qose, 35, a former sales and service consultant at First National Bank at Pier 14, guilty of fraud, cyber fraud and the unlawful use of a customer's credentials following her abuse of internal banking systems between January 22 and April 24 2024. The complainant, Mlungwana Maranti, 68, held an Encore account linked to a Money Maximiser account and a registered cellphone number used for authorising transactions via FNB's inContact system. Qose unlawfully changed his cellphone number on the bank's system using her employee credentials, diverting all one-time-pin authorisations to herself without the complainant's knowledge or consent. She further created a second bank card linked to the complainant's accounts, which she used to transfer funds from the Money Maximiser account to the Encore account and conducted multiple ATM withdrawals over three months. These fraudulent transactions resulted in a total loss of R245,000. The bank ultimately refunded the complainant and absorbed the financial loss. Qose used her employee number to access FNB's core operating system, which contains confidential customer and transactional information. She bypassed internal security protocols such as two-factor authentication and online fingerprint verification, and manipulated digital records to create the false impression that Maranti had authorised the transactions. The court found that Qose's actions were premeditated and sophisticated, involving multiple system breaches over an extended period. She pleaded guilty to all charges, citing financial distress as her motive. During sentencing proceedings, she and her aunt testified in mitigation, stating that she was a single mother of two children, aged 13 and 17. She has since repaid R87,000 through a deduction from her pension fund and expressed remorse for her actions. In a victim impact statement facilitated by court preparation officer Eric Blouw, Maranti detailed the emotional toll the crime had taken on him, detailing the trauma of watching his retirement savings vanish. He also revealed that he had even contemplated taking his own life. The court heard that Qose was fully aware that the funds she stole were earmarked to grow the complainant's retirement nest egg. Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit prosecutor Edmyrach Matabata argued that, despite Qose being a first-time offender, her gross abuse of trust and exploitation of a vulnerable senior citizen warranted a custodial sentence. The court concurred, emphasising that though the accused demonstrated remorse and potential for rehabilitation, the offence not only harmed the victim but also eroded public trust in the financial system. Welcoming the sentence, Eastern Cape director of public prosecutions advocate Barry Madolo said: 'This sentence underscores the National Prosecuting Authority's commitment to protecting the integrity of the financial sector and the rights of the vulnerable. 'Insider fraud is a growing threat, and we will continue to prioritise the prosecution of those who abuse their positions of trust to commit financial crimes. 'The NPA remains steadfast in its efforts to ensure accountability for those who exploit access to sensitive information and to deliver justice for victims of complex financial and cybercrime.' The Herald
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Yahoo
Belgian man crushed after driving nearly 500 miles to meet French model he believed was his 'future wife'
A Belgian man who drove nearly 500 miles to meet his future wife was stunned to find out the French model, and her husband, had no idea who he was. After driving 472 miles to meet Sophie Vouzelaud at her home, the man, who identified himself as Michel, was met by the 38-year-old's husband, Fabien Boutamine. "I have to film because there's a guy who just rang my doorbell, and he says 'I'm the future husband of Sophie Vouzelaud'," Boutamine said in a video he filmed during the get together. "Well, I'm the current one. There's going to be a confrontation." How Sim Swapping Led To A $1.8M Cyber Fraud Case After some cringeworthy back and forth, Michel admitted to Boutamine something might be "wrong." "I think she played a dirty trick on me," Michel could be heard saying in the distance. Read On The Fox News App "My wife, no, it's the fake accounts," Boutamine replied. "You have to be very careful." Fake Venmo Accounts Are Stealing Donations From Real Charities Michel explained he had sent $35,000 to someone posing online as Vouzelaud, former Miss Limousin and Miss France 2007 first runner-up. A bewildered and emotional Michel added that the scammer told him she had been pregnant, but later lost her baby. "No she's still there, luckily for us," Boutamine said. "I'm sorry sir … but the problem is that Sophie puts a lot of videos on [social media] networks to say to be careful not to get hurt." Elon Musk Scam Tricks Victims On Facebook With Tesla Hoax Vouzelaud later joined the men to clear up the heartbreaking misunderstanding, saying "this hurts my heart." "You must keep all the evidence and take it to the police," she cautioned Michel. It is unclear if a police report was filed following the romance scam, though Boutamine's video, which he posted to social media, garnered nearly 11,000 likes on Instagram. "I feel so sorry for this man…," Boutamine wrote in the caption. "Watch out for fake accounts, I'm sharing this video to show you it's real and to be vigilant! Take care of yourself." Boutamine and Vouzelaud did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment. Fox News Digital's Sophia Compton and Jasmine Baehr contributed to this article source: Belgian man crushed after driving nearly 500 miles to meet French model he believed was his 'future wife' Solve the daily Crossword
Times of Oman
11-07-2025
- Times of Oman
Foreign national arrested in cyber fraud operation
Muscat: The Royal Oman Police has apprehended a Chinese tourist involved in a sophisticated cyber fraud operation in coordination with an international criminal organisation specialising in cross-border digital scams. According to official sources, the suspect used advanced technological methods to infiltrate local residential network systems. Once inside, she allegedly created a fake parallel network that broadcasted deceptive messages to nearby mobile devices, aiming to manipulate users and carry out fraudulent activities.
Khaleej Times
29-06-2025
- Khaleej Times
Dubai Police arrest fake agent offering scam apartment deals
In light of the incident, Dubai Police have called on the public to exercise caution when dealing with online rental listings Dubai Police have arrested a fraudster who was posting fake apartment rental listings on websites and social media platforms, luring victims with unusually low prices. According to authorities, the scammer targeted individuals searching for rental properties by requesting upfront payments or deposits to secure a booking. Once the money was transferred, the suspect would cut all contact and vanish — delivering no property or services in return. Police emphasised that such acts constitute cyber fraud, a criminal offense under UAE law. The Anti-Fraud Center treats these cases with high priority and applies strict legal measures against offenders. In light of the incident, Dubai Police have called on the public to exercise caution when dealing with online rental listings. They urged residents not to transfer any funds before verifying the identity of the landlord and confirming the legitimacy of the property through approved legal channels.
