Organised credit card fraud gangs are offering remote learning ‘schools’ in which they teach criminal gangs the skills necessary to operate successfully, according to research a digital risk management company.
The programme is available to Russian speakers only. It is comprised of six-week courses with 20 lectures from five expert instructors. The courses include webinars, detailed notes and course material, all available for $745 (Dh2,736), plus $200 (Dh734) in fees.
The criminal distance learning programme places a strong emphasis on social engineerings, such as on how to manipulate unwitting victims through in-depth knowledge of their local area.
They develop a rapport with victims and trick them into handing over crucial information such as PIN numbers over the phone.
With the skills learned in the courses, would-be cyber crooks have the potential to earn incomes as $12,000 (Dh44,077), a month, based on a standard 40-hour working week. Given the average Russian monthly wage of less than $700 (Dh2,571), this means that cyber criminals can earn 17 times more than they would in many “legitimate” professions.
Credit card fraud is a lucrative market. In just two of the most popular ‘carding’ forums, almost 1.2 million cards hold details are up for grabs, each selling for an average of $6 (Dh22).
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