Posted on 06/27/2012 8:06:06 AM PDT by freedommom
Leading cyber security firm McAfee has issued a startling breaking news report that indicates the U.S., European and Latin American financial systems are under a massive financial attacks that have digitally siphoned some $2.5 billion from thousands of accounts from various financial institutions.
According to McAfee, the attacks are ongoing and international law enforcement agencies are currently working to shut them down:
McAfee and Guardian Analytics have uncovered a highly sophisticated, global financial services fraud campaign that has reached the American banking system. As this research study goes to press, we are working actively with international law enforcement organizations to shut down these attacks.
Unlike standard SpyEye and Zeus attacks that typically feature live (manual) interventions, we have discovered at least a dozen groups now using server-side components and heavy automation. The fraudsters’ objective in these attacks is to siphon large amounts from high balance accounts, hence the name chosen for this research: Operation High Roller.
With no human participation required, each attack moves quickly and scales neatly. This operation combines an insider level of understanding of banking transaction systems with both custom and off the shelf malicious code and appears to be worthy of the term “organized crime.”
This study found 60 servers processing thousands of attempted thefts from high-value commercial accounts and some high net worth individuals. As the attack shifted emphasis from consumers to businesses, mule business accounts allowed attempted transfers averaging in the thousands of Euros, with some transfers as high as €100,000 (US$130,000).
Three distinct attack strategies have emerged as the targets have expanded from the European Union, to Latin America, to the United States.
Debunking the popular wisdom that only big banks are affected, the research documents attacks at every class of financial institution: credit union, large global bank, and regional bank. So far, we estimate the criminals have attempted at least €60 million (US$78 million) in fraudulent transfers from accounts at 60 or more financial institutions (FIs). If all of the attempted fraud campaigns were as successful as the Netherlands example we describe in this report, the total attempted fraud could be as high as €2 billion.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/062712-cybercriminals-build-massive-banking-fraud-260503.html
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-06-25/business/sns-rt-us-online-bankfraudbre85p046-20120625_1_smaller-transfers-money-mules-researchers
http://www.itpro.co.uk/641386/mcafee-uncovers-europe-wide-bank-fraud-scam
It sounds as if they are hitting commercial accounts and rich individuals by name. If true, that pretty well leaves me out.
Governments have needed a pretext to tighten banking regulations and gain even more authority over the individual movement of capital. Whether real or a false flag, this cyber attack may very well give them the ammunition they need to take complete control of the internet.
I think I’m safe because I imagine they are only going after accounts with money in them.
Should watch for any sudden campaign contribution spikes for zer0’s handful of money laun... I mean PACs and reelection reports
I’m safe. I ain’t got no money.
Besides, I got Microsoft Firewall turned on...........
“Whether real or a false flag, this cyber attack may very well give them the ammunition they need to take complete control of the internet.”
This is the first thing to come to my mind also.
China?
china on russian servers...once the usd fails they can bring in the bric reserve currency
bk
This week I needed to transfer money to another country. My bank strongly recommended I set up a stand-alone checking and savings for money transfers only (both free).
me too i bet they might even put some in to my account
LOL - Same here, brother.
Peter Gibbons and Michael Bolton, is that you??
Well.... seems Obama donors aren’t ponying up like they were four years ago.
Guess he had to launch OPERATION HIGH ROLLER to get enough to win.
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