The dogged dedication of scammers has taken one other chew out of town’s confidence in e-commerce. The latest on-line thievery was cynically disguised as a scandal involving the unlawful sale of canine meat that duped a number of victims out of a complete of HK$1.36 million.
Investigators on Monday stated a malicious Android app was used to put in Trojan malware on would-be patrons’ telephones, sending them a pretend banking login web page the place some victims entered names and passwords. Police stated gadgets have been being remotely managed even when customers noticed solely clean screens.
It may be tempting to say those that tried to purchase unlawful canine meat received what they deserved, however a number of the victims have been lured in by commercials for different meals gadgets in addition to journey packages and automobile leases. A person in his sixties misplaced HK$415,000 after clicking a Facebook advert for HK$25 prompt noodles.
The pretend supply of canine meat even featured a cartoon picture of a canine, presumably to throw authorities and victims off the scent of scammers. Officers stated there was no proof to recommend any unlawful meat was bought or delivered.
Hong Kong authorities probe suspected sale of canine meat amid uproar over advert
Hong Kong authorities probe suspected sale of canine meat amid uproar over advert
An animal charity that had nothing to do with the case was wrongly implicated when thieves directed some patrons to a Faster Payment System (FPS) quantity linked to the shelter.
Ip Cheuk-yu, appearing superintendent of the police cybersecurity and expertise crime bureau, stated canine meat was presumably a “cover to create a public noise”. Some animal lovers might have ended up downloading the app as they tried to trace the “sellers”.
It is sweet that some banks have been taking new safety steps, together with disabling screenshot and display screen recording features that thieves exploit to manage cellular banking apps. However, the recent circumstances underscore how hackers proceed to search out new methods round such measures.
Police warned earlier this yr a couple of 50 per cent surge in technology-related crimes within the first half of 2023 in comparison with the identical interval final yr. Unless enforcement and public consciousness can keep forward of the cybercriminals, town’s goals of shifting to extra environment friendly cashless programs will hold barking up the fallacious tree.
