Ukrainian cyber police, working with Czech law enforcement, have arrested several members of a cybercrime gang that set up phishing sites targeting European users.
Two of the arrested affiliates are believed to be organizers, while another 10 are detained elsewhere in the EU.
Suspects allegedly created over 100 phishing portals targeting users in France, Spain, Poland, the Czech Republic, Portugal, and other countries in the region.
These websites masquerade as online portals offering products at deep discounts from market prices in order to lure unsuspecting users into placing fake “orders.”
In reality, the financial information entered into these websites to complete payments was used to siphon money out of victims’ accounts.
“Due to the fraudulent scheme, the participants also created two call centers in Vinnytsia and Lviv, involving operators in their work,” said Cyber Police. “Their role was to persuade customers to buy.”
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This nefarious scheme is estimated to have defrauded over 1,000 individuals and netted the operators around $4.33 million in illicit profits.
As part of the investigation, law enforcement officials conducted more than 30 searches and seized mobile phones, SIM cards and computer equipment used in the activity.
Criminal proceedings can be initiated against the perpetrators and sentenced to up to 12 years in prison.
