Hackers Suspected Of Online Bank Fraud Arrested

Ukrainian authorities arrested five hackers in September 2010 on suspicion that they looted foreign companies off huge amounts of money out of their bank accounts, according to Softpedia which published the news on September 24, 2010.

Three departments of the Ukrainian government -the Anti-Corruption Bureau of the General Directorate of fighting well-planned crime, the Ukraine Police, and the MIA (Ministry of Internal Affairs) -jointly conducted the arrests.

Reportedly, the hackers' gang carried out their operation from Odessa, a Southern Ukrainian city, robbing $300,000-$500,000 every month, the investigators said.

It was also revealed that malware and special equipments were used for the hacks into the financial accounts belonging to foreign businesses, institutions and organizations.

Furthermore, during the arrests of the suspected hackers as also raid of their place of operation, the police unearthed various documents like company stamps, banking forms, fake passports etc., along with Internet servers. In addition, they found weapons, drugs and $350,000.

Believe MIA detectives that this hackers' ring has a connection with another online hackers' group in Ukraine that looted Sony Europe's bank accounts off $1m. Presently in prison, the hackers know they'll be shortly taken to court for prosecution. Meanwhile, investigators are continuously attempting at locating each and every victim as well as trying to know the situations wherein they were victimized.

State the security researchers that it's clear from this report that Ukraine is determined to carry out its plans of busting cyber-crime. Some days back, the Parliament in the country passed a fresh law that would set up a network to monitor cyber-crime round the clock.

Meanwhile, according to specialists, countries in Eastern Europe are still thriving in Internet criminal operation and are haven to a few most hazardous gangs for cyber-crime worldwide.

However, these countries have started acting firmly against crimes on the Internet. In Romania, numerous similar dismantling of cyber-crime gangs were revealed over the last 2 years. Nevertheless, users are urged to remain careful when surfing online, know how to safeguard personal information there, and most significantly use high-quality anti-virus software, which along with hunting for malware, stops access to malevolent websites.

Related article: Hackers Redirect Windows Live Search to Malicious Sites

» SPAMfighter News - 10/5/2010