After researchers unmasked a prolific SMS scammer, a new operation has emerged
11 days ago
- #phishing
- #cybersecurity
- #fraud
- Scam text messages about unpaid tolls or undelivered mail are part of a widespread fraud operation.
- Victims are tricked into clicking phishing links, entering credit card details, which are then stolen.
- The scam operation 'Magic Cat' netted at least 884,000 stolen credit card details in seven months in 2024.
- The developer of Magic Cat, known as Darcula, was identified as 24-year-old Chinese national Yucheng C.
- After Darcula was exposed, a new operation called 'Magic Mouse' emerged, surpassing Magic Cat in scale.
- Magic Mouse is already responsible for stealing at least 650,000 credit cards monthly.
- The new operation uses stolen phishing kits from Magic Cat to mimic legitimate services and trick victims.
- Law enforcement is not adequately addressing the wider operation behind these scams.
- Tech companies and financial giants are criticized for not doing enough to prevent these scams.
- The best defense against such scams is to ignore suspicious text messages.