Federal authorities shut down PopeyeTools, an online marketplace selling stolen credit card data and other cybercrime tools. Three administrators, two from Pakistan and one from Afghanistan, face charges carrying a maximum 10-year prison sentence. The Department of Justice seized $283,000 in cryptocurrency and three website domains associated with the platform, which operated since at least 2016 and affected at least 227,000 individuals. This action is part of a wider crackdown on cybercrime, including recent arrests of individuals involved in ransomware attacks and election interference. The operation, dubbed "Operation Shipwrecked," involved collaboration with law enforcement in the U.K. and Malaysia

Read more here: https://therecord.media/popeyetools-stolen-credit-cards-marketplace-takedown

This National Geographic UK YouTube video excerpt features an interview with a scammer, Victor, who discusses his involvement in financial crimes. He reveals his use of intimidation and violence, though claims to avoid killing. The scene depicts a high-stakes meeting, highlighting the dangers faced by the interviewer, Mariana. The video promotes a new National Geographic series, "Trafficked," which explores the world of black markets. The excerpt offers a glimpse into the world of organised crime and its human cost. The interviewee is seemingly unapologetic about his actions, justifying them by framing himself as merely trying to make money.

Investment scams in Israel are explored, revealing a vast network of fraudulent companies operating under the guise of legitimate businesses in Tel Aviv's diamond district. These companies, employing deceptive tactics like manipulating online trading accounts, prey on unsuspecting investors worldwide, generating billions of dollars annually. The deceptive nature of these operations is highlighted, contrasting them with the lottery scams prevalent in Jamaica. A journalist's investigation uncovered the scale of this fraud, exposing the hundreds of companies involved and their sophisticated methods of deception. The secrecy surrounding these operations is also emphasised, as those involved actively avoid attention.

The podcast details an investigative journalist's exposé of a cryptocurrency scam ring. The journalist interviews members of the group, who openly discuss their multi-million dollar rug pull scheme, detailing their lavish lifestyles funded by defrauding investors. The scammers explain their methods, which involve manipulating social media and exploiting the hype surrounding new crypto tokens. The journalist also highlights the lack of legal recourse for victims and the difficulties in tracking down and prosecuting the perpetrators. Despite the recent cryptocurrency market crash, the scammers continue their activities and remain financially successful. The investigation underscores the widespread issue of cryptocurrency fraud and the vulnerability of unsuspecting investors.

This excerpt from a National Geographic documentary on YouTube reveals the inner workings of romance scams in Ghana. The video showcases two scammers, "The Punisher" and "Miami Queen," who use fake online profiles to trick men into sending them money. They use pre-recorded videos of attractive women to deceive their victims during video calls, while simultaneously texting from a different account. These scams are a common practice in Ghana, with scammers making significant profits from their activities. The documentary highlights the vulnerability of men online and the sophisticated nature of these scams, with scammers using tools like scripts and pre-recorded videos.

Social media platforms have become the “go to” place for too many seeking information.
While platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) are fertile
grounds for the spread of misinformation, they are also ripe for the creation of fake accounts
with even more nefarious intentions.

Sara-Jayne Makwala King is joined by Sharon Knowles, cybercrime investigator to find out more about setting up a digital will.

All things cyber, from crime to passion. Those involved in cyber and all that goes on. From the dark to the deep, from the surface to the platform. A podcast newbie with a little slip of the tongue here and there. All contributions are welcome and if you would like to be featured or even have a topic please let me know.

Welcome to a minute or so with Sharon. I will be chatting about cybersecurity, management, risk, and strategies. I will also be discussing true crime in a digital sense; what happens when your devices are hacked, what happens if your business is hacked.

Please support us by sharing the podcast and subscribing. Think of it as journeying along the newbie podcast route with me.

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