South Korean authorities have arrested a gaggle suspected of focusing on rich residents, together with celebrities and enterprise leaders, in a digital theft operation that resulted in losses exceeding $28 million.
In line with a report by Korea Joongang Every day on August 28, the Seoul Metropolitan Police confirmed that they’d detained 16 people linked to the scheme.
Two alleged leaders, each Chinese language nationals, have been captured in Thailand and accused of coordinating the operation from there and China over a nine-month interval between July 2023 and April 2024.
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Police mentioned the group illegally accessed databases from authorities and monetary companies to collect private data. This data was used to open greater than 100 cell accounts underneath faux names.
These telephones helped them bypass safety techniques and entry varied on-line accounts, together with these holding giant quantities of cash and cryptocurrency.
In whole, information was reportedly collected from 258 folks. This listing included crypto holders, executives, public figures, {and professional} athletes. Though many have been focused, investigators mentioned the group solely tried to steal funds from 26 people. These victims held account balances price practically $40 billion mixed.
Among the many instances was that of BTS member Jungkook. In January, whereas he was fulfilling navy duties, attackers allegedly tried to entry and promote $6.1 million price of HYBE inventory tied to him. The switch was blocked after the banking techniques flagged the transaction, and his administration intervened.
On August 27, the US authorities took new motion in opposition to a gaggle accused of serving to North Korea steal cryptocurrency from corporations primarily based in america. What motion did the federal government take? Learn the total story.