The “Russian Coms” scam platform [2], operating since 2021 [1], has been shut down by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) for defrauding approximately 170,000 victims in Britain alone, resulting in financial losses in the tens of millions [3] [4].
Description
Over three years, 1.3 million calls were made to 500,000 unique UK phone numbers [3], with victims in 107 countries targeted [3]. The platform offered a bespoke handset for up to £1,400 for a six-month contract, providing features like encrypted calls [3], voice changing services [3], and fake applications for anonymity [3]. Criminals impersonated financial institutions, telecom companies [3], and law enforcement agencies to deceive victims into transferring money. The NCA [1] [2] [3] [4], in collaboration with international partners [4], is working to identify other victims and affiliates of the service [4]. Two individuals suspected of developing and administering the service have been arrested in London [4], with additional arrests made in Europe and the United Kingdom as the investigation progresses [4].
Conclusion
Director Adrian Searle warns against trusting such services [3], as fraud accounts for a significant portion of crime [3], often facilitated by technology. The arrests made in connection with the “Russian Coms” scam platform highlight the ongoing efforts to combat cybercrime and protect individuals from falling victim to fraudulent schemes.
References
[1] https://www.provocator.org/2024/08/02/how-170000-brits-had-been-scammed-out-of-thousands-and-thousands-of-kilos-by-a-platform-which-provided-customers-with-a-handset-that-seemed-precisely-like-a-cell-phone/
[2] https://www.abijita.com/nca-shuts-down-global-fraud-platform-russian-coms/
[3] https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/scam-platform-shut-dow-by-uk/
[4] https://thecyberpost.com/news/suspects-in-russian-coms-spoofing-service-arrested-in-london-as-nca-announces-takedown/
