The Scam Division of the Police Investigation Operational Center (DIRINCRI PNP), an entity of the National Police of Peru (PNP), issued a warning regarding a new strategy used by scammers, which is gaining strength and claiming several victims.
As reported RPP Newsit is a mechanism based on the creation of bank accounts with the personal data obtained when selling telephone plans on public roads.
“They capture all the information at the moment the victim provides their personal data, their fingerprint and, above all, they capture the photograph, which is not necessary; However, they take a photo of him,” explained Colonel Manuel Cruz Chamba, head of the Scams and Other Fraud Investigation Division of the Dirincri.
With this data, criminals can operate to create bank accounts through mobile or internet banking, subsequently accessing virtual wallets where they store money from illicit activities.
Colonel Cruz explains that, in many cases, the affected people do not realize what happened until they are arrested by the Police. “When does the person realize it? When she has been detained by the Police, because she is the visible face in a scam, fraud or extortion investigation,” she indicated.
To avoid this, the authorities urge citizens to purchase telephone lines and SIM cards only at authorized centers to reduce the dangers linked to the exposure of their personal data to crime.
As a reference to this problem, so far this year, the Dirincri Scams Division has registered movements of 33 million soles and 8 million dollars through different types of scam.
Another of the newest is ‘smishing’, which consists of sending fraudulent SMS text messages that seek to steal personal and financial data.
The messages usually contain links that redirect users to fake web pages that imitate official sites. Once on these pages, criminals request sensitive information, such as names, identification numbers and bank detailswhich are then used for illicit activities such as access to bank accounts and unauthorized purchases.
This modus operandi also allows the installation of malware on victims’ devices. One of the most common viruses associated with this practice is ‘FluBot’which allows cybercriminals to take control of the device, steal data and spread the threat to other contacts.
The tips include not opening messages from unknown senders, not clicking on suspicious links and keeping mobile devices updated. If you receive suspicious messages, you must report the incident to the Police station or to the High-Tech Crime Investigation Division (Divindat).
Furthermore, to report a computer crime, people can go to any police station or contact the police directly. Divinity through its official channels. These are:
