The Fraud Fellas

??????????????????, ????????????????????, ?????? ?????????????????????????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????? USING FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM HARM The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has released a groundbreaking report highlighting the critical role of financial intelligence in combating????????????? ?????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????? (OCSE)—?? ?????????????? ?????????????? and ???????????? ???????????????????? ??????????-?????????????? ??????????. The findings emphasize the urgent need for?global cooperation, stronger detection mechanisms, and victim-centric investigative strategies. ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? ???? ???????? - ?????? ???? ???????????????? worldwide, or?1 ???? 8, ???????????????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????? annually. - ????% of countries?anticipate a ???????? ???? ?????????? ???????????? in the coming years. - Increasing use of??????????????????? ???????????????????????????? and ?????????????? ?????????????? ???????????????is making detection more challenging. ?????? ???????? ?????????????? -?????????-???????????????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? (????????): Perpetrators pay to direct or view real-time abuse. -??????????????????? ???????????? ?????????????????? ???? ???????????????? (????????): Criminals coerce minors into providing explicit content and demand money to prevent its release. ?????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???? ?? ????????-?????????????? The report identifies financial red flags that institutions can use to detect these crimes, such as: - Small, repeated transactions (EUR 10–200) from developed nations to high-risk jurisdictions. - Payments referencing social media usernames, ‘gifts,’ or ‘medical expenses.’ - Unusual purchases of?VPNs, video capture software, and digital gift cards. ?????????????????? & ???????? ?????????????????? -?Proactive monitoring?by financial institutions to flag suspicious transactions. -?Strengthened global cooperation between financial authorities and law enforcement. -?Public-private partnerships?leveraging data to identify and prevent OCSE. -?Victim-centric approaches?that minimize reliance on testimonies and prioritize safeguarding. ???????????? ?????????????? While we crime fighters are focused on other forms of #crimes, this is a deeply concerning crime and an important one that must not be ignored. It calls on policymakers, financial institutions, and tech companies to work together in disrupting these crimes. Every transaction leaves a trace, and?financial intelligence can play a pivotal role in dismantling OCSE networks. Read the full report and join the conversation on how we can protect children from harm. Thank you, #FATF, for this crucial initiative! The Fraud Fellas About Fraud Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists - ACFCS #ChildSafety #FinancialIntelligence #fraud #financialcrime

?????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????????? ???????? ????????-???????? ??????????'?? ?????????????? ???????? & ???????????? ?????????? ??????????: A Stark Reality Check. India's affordable data (starting as low as $0.13/hour) and booming mobile payments market (Paytm, Google Pay, PhonePe) have fueled massive digital adoption. However, this rapid growth has created a fertile ground for cybercrime. ?????????? ???? ????????-?????????? ??????????:Cyber fraud cases involving significant sums (100,000+ rupees) have skyrocketed, quadrupling in fiscal year 2024. Losses have more than doubled, reaching $20 million (the actual number could be multiple folds on this). ?????????? ???????????????? ??????: Despite digital expansion, cyber literacy hasn't kept pace. Scammers are exploiting this vulnerability through impersonation, AI-driven scams, and traditional methods like phone calls and texts. ???????????????????? & ???????????????? ????????????????: Authorities are taking action, with telecom regulators blacklisting spam callers and the central bank proposing account-freezing measures. The government has also launched awareness campaigns. Banks and fact checking organizations are also taking actions to educate the public. ???????? ?????? ??????????????????: Authorities have emphasized the need for increased online security. As cybercrime evolves, continuous vigilance and education are crucial to protect India's digital future. Full Story: https://lnkd.in/dgcs9HAU The Fraud Fellas About Fraud Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists - ACFCS #India #CyberSecurity #DigitalPayments #CyberFraud #Fintech #DigitalIndia #OnlineSecurity #DataSecurity #FinancialCrime #AI #Scams #CyberAwareness #FraudPrevention #TechNews #Reuters #CyberLiteracy #fraud #acfe #acfcs #cybercrime

?? Hollywood vs scammers ???? We have all seen the celebrity impersonating scams. Now celebrities are hitting back.?? "Some of the biggest names in Hollywood” - like. Scarlett Johansson - are throwing their support behind legislation like the No Fakes Act, which would fine tech platforms for unauthorised AI-generated images, videos and sound. ?? CNN Business: https://lnkd.in/gquaajTu Colour me intrigued on who will prevail. ?? Ken Palla Ken Westbrook ??? Related (older) news: ?? an 2023 a Guardian Australia article revealed scammers paid Meta AUD$7000 to show Australian celeb impersonation ads to up to 100,000 people, or 7 cents per view. ?? In October 2024, Meta announced it will introduce facial recognition technology to crack down on celeb deepfake scams. Image: screen shot of scam ad using Taylor Swift's image, ?? thetab[.]com #scams #celebrityscams #deepfake #hollywood #scamadvertisement #legislation

???????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ????????-???????????? ??????????: ?? $?????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????????? Sequel 2 of The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project investigations on the Georgian syndicate that was behind the $35 million fraud ?????? "??????????????" ????????????????????: - A six-month investigation by OCCRP and partners uncovered a sophisticated scam operation run from Tbilisi, Georgia. - Young, multilingual Georgians, posing as financial advisors, defrauded victims worldwide, amassing $????.?? ?????????????? between 2022 and 2025. - These scammers, openly calling themselves "??????????????" (meaning scammers in the Georgian language), flaunted their wealth on social media, showcasing luxury vacations, designer goods, and high-end cars. ???????????? ?????? ????????????: - Operating from seemingly ordinary call centers, they used fake identities and forged documents to gain victims' trust. - Internal communications revealed a culture of aggressive sales tactics and a disregard for the devastating impact on their victims. - The investigation tracked down individuals like "Mary Roberts," whose real identity, Mariam Charchian, was revealed through social media and leaked data. ?????? ??????????????????????: - The operation was run by ??.??. ??????????, owned by Meri Shotadze, 36, and Akaki Kevkhishvili, 33. - Kevkhishvili, the apparent mastermind, lived a life of luxury, while Shotadze, under the pseudonym "Kseniya Koen," enforced strict performance standards. - Proxies were used to rent the offices, and other methods were used to hide the true owners of the company. ?????? ??????????????' ??????????????: - Marcel Deschamps, a Canadian factory worker, was one of many victims who lost substantial sums of money. - His experience highlighted the emotional manipulation and ruthless tactics used by the scammers. - The effects on the victims were devastating. ?????? ????????????????????: - As the investigation progressed, the scammers began to erase their digital footprints, deleting social media accounts and selling off assets. - Despite their efforts, the investigation exposed their operation, bringing their fraudulent activities to light. - Georgian state prosecutors are now looking into the A.K. Group. ?????? ??????????????????: - This investigation reveals the scale and sophistication of modern-day call-center scams. - It underscores the importance of vigilance and awareness in protecting oneself from financial fraud. - The use of social media to track the scammers, shows how open source information can be used in investigations. Full Article: https://lnkd.in/dM_76kMn The Fraud Fellas About Fraud Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists - ACFCS Rhonda Erin Ken #Fraud #Scam #Investigation #OCCRP #Cybercrime #FinancialFraud #Georgia #Tbilisi

The UN estimates a staggering 120,000 people are enslaved in Myanmar, forced to operate online scams that include fake gambling, romance, and 'pig butchering' schemes, generating billions. These individuals endure unspeakable torture, including electric shocks and physical assaults. The scale of this human suffering is horrifying. This isn't just a regional issue; it's a global crisis impacting individuals and economies worldwide. In an attempt to disrupt these operations, Thai officials have seized 78 #Starlink receivers destined for scam compounds in Myanmar over the past year. Furthermore, collaborative efforts between China and Thailand have resulted in the deportation of over 55,000 foreign nationals involved in these criminal activities. Enhanced international cooperation is essential to combat these transnational criminal networks and protect vulnerable populations. The Fraud Fellas About Fraud Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists - ACFCS Rhonda Ken Erin Luke #Scams #Fraud #Cybercrime #Myanmar #Thailand #HumanTrafficking #RomanceScams #PigButcheringScams #OnlineGambling #CyberFraud #Awareness #StopScams #EndHumanTrafficking #HumanRights #InternationalCooperation #LawEnforcement #Starlink #Cybersecurity #OnlineSecurity #UN #Asia #SoutheastAsia

??? SMS ID registry, Google AI & more: the week in scams & fraud Scammers never sleep, neither do scam fighters. Here are some things that came across my feed this week. ???? Australia’s Communications Minister, Michelle Rowland MP, directed the regulator ACMA to commence consultation on standards for an SMS ID registry. Jointly announced with Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones ????♀? ACMA expects the registry will be up and running by late 2025. https://lnkd.in/gTqxT-xQ ?? Google announces more AI powered scam detection designed to identify conversational scams. Initially available in US, Canada and UK. Hey Google when is it coming to #Australia? https://lnkd.in/gBHizhP6 ???? Exposé of scam networks operating out of Georgia, ironically because of a data breach. Excellent summary by Anis Ahmed : https://lnkd.in/gsjTcraP ?? Phishing that abuses the DocuSign API to impersonate emails from PayPal. If you're not sure about an email, the key safety tip is: ?? Go directly to Docusign.com, click ‘Access Documents’ (upper right-hand corner), and enter the security code displayed in the email. ?? If you get an error message, that means the document was removed or never even existed. = Huge ? https://lnkd.in/gUNTe6ng Ken Palla Luke Raven Jonathan Frost #scams #fraud #news #ai #smsregistry

????????-???????? ?????????? ???????????? ????????: ?????? ???????????????????? ???? ???????????????? & ????????’?? ????????? The cybercrime landscape is undergoing a massive transformation with AI-powered attacks, Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS), and a booming Cybercrime-as-a-Service (CaaS) industry. The latest High-Tech #Crime Trends Report 2025 from Group-IB breaks down the most pressing threats and what organizations must do to stay ahead. Here’s what you need to know: ??. ????-?????????????? ???????????????????? ???? ????????: - AI-generated phishing attacks use #deepfake voices and videos. - Automated malware can adapt in real time. - AI-driven hacking tools bypass traditional #security. Action Needed: AI-powered threats require AI-driven defenses—old security models are failing. ??. ???????????????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ????????: - $75M ransom paid to Dark Angels—one of the biggest in history. - Attackers use multi-extortion (#datatheft + encryption + public leaks). - Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) is enabling more criminals. Action Needed: Zero-trust security, offline backups, and rapid response plans are critical. ??. ????????????????????-????-??-?????????????? (????????) ???? ??????????????: - Pre-packaged #cyberattack kits make hacking easy. - Stolen credentials are fueling large-scale breaches. - Corporate espionage-as-a-service is on the rise. Action Needed: Continuous threat intelligence and multi-layered defenses are crucial. ??. ?????????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ????????: - 65% of breaches involve compromised #passwords. - Credential stuffing attacks exploit reused passwords. - Hackers sell millions of stolen logins daily. Action Needed: - Enforce password managers & MFA (multi-factor authentication). - Use #passkeys & biometric authentication where possible. - Regularly monitor for leaked credentials on the dark web. ??. ???????????? ???????????????????? ?????? ????????????????????????: - Interpol’s Operation Synergia dismantled phishing networks. - Operation LabHost took down a global fraud scheme. - More #cybercriminals are being arrested, but new threats keep emerging. Action Needed: Stronger public-private partnerships are crucial to stopping major cybercrime networks. ????????’?? ???????? ???? ????????????????????? - AI-powered cybersecurity will become standard. - Cyber insurance costs will rise. - Stronger global regulations are coming. - Human error (weak passwords & phishing) remains the top risk. ?????????? ??????????????:The biggest threat? Complacency. Stay ahead, or risk being the next victim. Download the full report: https://lnkd.in/d6biE6wG The Fraud Fellas About Fraud Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists - ACFCS Vaibhav Dmitry #CyberSecurity #CyberCrime #AI #Passwords #ThreatIntelligence #Ransomware #acfcs #acfe