Cyber-criminals grab millions
SOUTH Africans are being robbed blind online, crime-fighters say.
Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said yesterday that their cyber-crime unit had been inundated with reports of the servers used by big businesses being hijacked and unemployed people and bank employees being used by syndicates to siphon off money.
“For instance, you find that these syndicates take over the server of a certain company and then demand a ransom,” Mulaudzi said.
“Cyber-crime is so severe, we normally assist [other countries] through Interpol.
“If need be, we go and testify. We have a mutual understanding between the countries as to how we deal with the suspects.”
Although he could not provide statistics and specific examples, Mulaudzi said several cases of cyber-related crimes were pending before South African courts.
His comments come as Interpol nabbed a man known only as “Mike”, said to be a Nigerian linked to a syndicate, reportedly behind $60-million (R1.3-billion) in thefts, including from South Africa.
The network hacked e-mail accounts of small businesses from countries also including Australia, Canada and the US.
Investigators found that at least 40 people in various countries were involved.