Aussies revealed as prime targets of Israel crypto scam syndicate
1 min read
Australian residents have been identified as one the primary targets of a sophisticated network of cryptocurrency call-center scammers — which are suspected to be run by Israel-based crime bosses.
Evidence uncovered after a full-scale raid of four Serbian call centers and 11 residences by Serbian, German, Bulgarian and Cypriot authorities found that Australians were among the top countries being targeted. The news came from a Feb. 23 report by The Australian.
The raids saw fifteen people arrested and $1.46 million in cryptocurrencies seized, among others.
Dramatic police raids in Belgrade, Bulgaria and Cyprus, following investigations in Germany, have uncovered evidence Australia is in the top tier of countries being targeted:
Victims have lost an additional $53.4 million in the first month of 2023 too.
To fight the issue, the Australian Securities Investment Commission (ASIC) released a list of the “top-10 ways to spot a crypto scam” in November to raise awareness of the issue.
In July, the ACCC began trialing a cybersecurity service that automatically takes down scam websites. The trial saw some early success, with several crypto scam sites being knocked offline relatively quickly.
