Three men in the United Kingdom have been convicted for their roles in operating a fraudulent website that targeted banking security systems during the COVID-19 lockdown. The website was set up by Callum Picari, 22, from Hornchurch, Essex, Vijayasidhurshan Vijayanathan, 21, from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and Aza Siddeeque, 19, from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. The site, which began its operations in September 2019, provided criminals with a subscription-based service designed to bypass multi-factor authentication systems. By using automated bots to extract one-time passcodes from victims, the operation enabled fraudsters to access bank accounts and steal funds from unsuspecting individuals.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) seized the website in March 2021, following an investigation that began in June 2020. The subscription service offered by the website was tiered, with a basic plan costing £30 per week and a more advanced “elite plan” priced at £380 per week. The elite plan included access to Visa and Mastercard verification sites, making it a valuable tool for criminals seeking to evade banking security measures. Despite the severe impact of their actions, the NCA has not disclosed the total amount of money generated by the criminal enterprise.
The trio initially denied any wrongdoing, but they eventually pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to make and supply articles for use in fraud, with Picari also facing charges of money laundering. The NCA’s investigation revealed that Picari was the primary owner and developer of the website, which was advertised on a Telegram group with over 2,200 members. In response to a journalistic exposé on the operation, the group’s administrators attempted to erase incriminating evidence, including deleting Telegram conversations that discussed the site’s fraudulent activities.
Sentencing for Picari, Vijayanathan, and Siddeeque is scheduled for November 2, 2024, at Snaresbrook Crown Court. Anna Smith, operations manager at the NCA’s National Cyber Crime Unit, emphasized that the convictions serve as a stark warning to anyone involved in similar illegal activities. The NCA is committed to disrupting and dismantling websites that pose a threat to financial security and public trust. Smith also advised the public to remain vigilant against potential phishing scams and to verify any suspicious requests for personal information directly with the relevant organizations.
Reference:
