The National Police have arrested a 28-year-old young man of Moroccan nationality in Granada as the alleged perpetrator of a continuing crime of fraud after having appropriated more than 5,400 euros from several bank accounts that he managed to empty thanks to his extensive knowledge of the operation of the electronic banking platforms, facts for which the judge has ordered his imprisonment.
This cybercriminal had a highly sophisticated 'modus operandi' that involved in the first phase the use of specific malware with which he would have obtained the access credentials to the accounts of hundreds of banking clients from all over the country. In a second step, he would have proceeded to send massive SMS to said clients, each message included a link that pretended to come from his bank. Through these links he obtained the codes to install his victims' bank cards in the different mobile phones he had.
The next step was to approach the ATM of the chosen bank, check the balances of their victims and loot the accounts using the NFC system that allows the mobile phone to be linked to the ATM, using it like a bank card.
Although only nine complaints have been received so far from different parts of Spain, investigators are convinced that the arrest of this alleged cybercriminal will clarify many scams carried out with this modus operandi. The damage caused and detected so far would amount to more than 5,400 euros. An important part of this amount of money would have been transferred to Morocco through companies dedicated to sending money orders.
During the search of his home, the agents seized 20 computer devices, 66 prepaid SIM cards, several credit cards, 4,000 euros in cash, a high-end vehicle and abundant documentation of police interest. After being brought to justice, the judge ordered his imprisonment.
