Investment scams, false messages sent in the name of commercial banks and the Post Office of Montenegro, sexual blackmail... are some of the most common behaviors in the online space, for which citizens and legal entities submitted reports to the authorities during the past year.
The Police Administration, headed by Zoran Brđanin, told "Vijesta" that their officers had taken measures and actions within their jurisdiction for a year, ending on July 87st, in relation to XNUMX cases that were established in the prosecutor's offices.
They also said that, for the purpose of protection, it is necessary to constantly educate citizens and legal entities about recognizing fraud on the Internet and misuse of personal data, and that everyone should work together on education, including institutions, media, non-governmental organizations...
Fake platforms for quick earnings, SMS messages
"Vijesti" recently wrote about an investment scam in relation to the Nearest Edge internet platform, which convinces users that with a certain investment they can earn money in a short time.
In the specific case, it was about posts on the social network Facebook, in which the names and identities of several public figures, mostly journalists, were misused, as well as the visual identity of the CdM portal, the Central Bank of Montenegro. Public figures whose names and photos have been misused are allegedly promoting a bitcoin investment platform.
The Police Department told "Vijesta" at the time that it was an online investment fraud, a type of financial fraud, in which fraudsters deceive investors in order to get them to invest money in fake investment opportunities.
During the past months, the Post of Montenegro was abused in such a way that citizens received fake SMS messages in its name. Users who would accept and fully participate in further communication on the basis of these messages, in the end, a certain amount would be deducted from their bank accounts...
Almost 90 subjects for the year
The Police Directorate told "Vijesta" that their officers of the High-Tech Crime Suppression Group undertake continuous activities aimed at identifying and prosecuting the perpetrators of crimes with the help of information technology.
"In the context of dealing with reports submitted by natural and legal persons, which were qualified as criminal offenses by the acting state prosecutors in the competent state prosecutor's offices: fraud, computer fraud, unauthorized publication and display of other people's files, portraits and recordings, unauthorized collection and use of personal data, and unauthorized access to the computer system, in the period from July 1, 7, ending with July 2023, 1, officers of the High-Tech Crime Prevention Group took measures and actions within their jurisdiction in relation to 7 formed cases", they told "Vijesta".
As they added, the most frequently recorded patterns of behavior in the execution of those criminal acts are phishing, smishing attacks, investment fraud, Man in the Middle attack, sexual blackmail, clickbait.
Fake funds, clicks, blackmail...
With the so-called phishing attacks, as they said, the reception of malicious URL links (web address, prim. nov.) was registered.
"Which most often had the goal of inducing the recipient to enter their personal and financial data after activating the mentioned links, which would later be misused to commit criminal acts," said the Police Administration.
In so-called smishing attacks, they added, the sending of text messages to clients of commercial banks in Montenegro, which look like SMS notifications from the bank, was registered.
“Because most customers sign up to receive account notifications via SMS. Also, the sending of messages on behalf of the DHL international courier service company, as well as on behalf of the Post of Montenegro, was recorded, and in the content of which there was a link to add information related to the address of the recipient of the shipments and confirmation of payment thereof", said the UP.
In relation to investment fraud (pyramid schemes, fake funds, fake offers...), in which the victims are natural persons, as well as fraud on the cryptocurrency market, as they added, they are represented to a small extent, "due to the relatively unregulated nature of the industry and low level of education".
In the case of the so-called MITM (Man in the Middle) attack, the UP explains that it is a type of fraud where intrusions of unauthorized users in the communication between two economic entities are registered, and by modifying the data (false instructions for money transfer) funds are paid to other transaction account.
"Sextortion (sexual blackmail) where a large number of digital blackmail reports with explicit material (photos or videos) were registered to extort money from the victim. This form of cybercrime has long-lasting emotional, psychological and social consequences for the victims. Mostly, this type of cyber attack within a broader campaign is aimed at multiple victims of different ages and genders," UP explains.
As another way of committing a criminal offense with the help of information technology, which was registered as the most common during the past year, the UP states "clickbait".
"Clickbait campaigns, where registered content, usually in online articles, headlines or thumbnail images of public figures, are designed to attract attention and encourage people to access a link to view the content, as well as the targeted dissemination of false or misleading information in order to achieve a certain political, social or economic goal", they clarified what this type of fraud means.
Education is everyone's obligation
From UP they also said that, in order to protect, it is necessary to constantly educate citizens and legal entities about recognizing fraud on the Internet and misuse of personal data, and that everyone should work together on education, including institutions, media, non-governmental organizations...
"In the part of educating citizens and legal entities about recognizing fraud on the Internet and misuse of personal data, inter-agency cooperation is necessary, as well as cooperation with international and NGO organizations, educational institutions, media houses, all with the aim of organizing public campaigns, as well as holding educational workshop", they told "Vijesti".
As they added, the realization of these activities would result in a higher level of education and raising awareness of the dangers of the digital environment:
"And the reduction of the number of different forms of fraudulent actions carried out with the help of information technologies. Also, as important, we emphasize the fact that the employees of the aforementioned Group are engaged in the education of children and adults, with the aim of safely using all the benefits that the Internet provides as such, as well as data protection, privacy and abuse prevention mechanisms. This is a process that must be continuous and requires constant improvement, considering the rapid development of information technologies, as well as the fact that the age limit for using Internet services, among the younger population - children, is getting lower every year, which represents an additional risk for preserving their safety".
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