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Fraud Updates
PCB News
Fraud Updates 2004
21 September
It has recently been reported that criminals are remotely controlling more than 30,000 computers every day. This figure has risen from approximately 2000 per day over the last 12 months. The criminals use "Bots", secretly installed programs which allow an unauthorized user to remotely control a computer for a wide variety of purposes including spreading viruses, sending spam and committing internet fraud.
Once a computer has been compromised, criminals may also be able to access confidential information stored on the hacked computer. This information may allow the criminals to remove money from the victim's bank accounts or steal their identity.
The victims of crime should always consider using the civil proceedings as a method of recovering stolen assets. It is possible to use court orders to trace stolen assets through different bank accounts and even into assets purchased using the money. Alternatively, if the hackers can be identified, it is possible to freeze their worldwide assets and require them to disclose details of any further assets.
3 September
It has recently been reported that internet banking customers could be robbed by a "quiet" virus. The virus, called the Trofger Trojan, is activated when the victim's computer connects to a bank website. It contains a key-stroke logger which records all information typed into a computer including account details, passwords and credit card numbers. It also regularly records the information displayed on the computer's monitor.
The virus is concealed in unrelated software and computers can be infected through pornographic websites, online message boards or spam e-mails. The information collected by the virus is sent back to the criminals who then use it to access the victim's bank accounts. It has been reported that the virus may originate from a Russian criminal gang.
The victims of crime should always consider using the civil proceedings as a method of recovering stolen assets. It is possible to use court orders to trace stolen assets through different bank accounts and even into assets purchased using the money. Alternatively, if the criminals can be identified, it is possible to freeze their worldwide assets and require them to disclose details of any further assets.
| October 2004 | August 2004 |