*[Enwl-eng] Special investigation sheds light on criminal gangs and sham bank accounts

[ENWL]

                  Global Edition - Today's top story: Heists Worth Billions: An investigation found criminal gangs using sham bank accounts and secret online marketplaces to steal from almost anyone – and little being done to combat the fraud View in browser 
                   Global Edition | 22 June 2023 
                 
           
                   
                    
                 
           
           
                  The Conversation U.S. has published its first investigation, “Heists Worth Billions.” This is a collaboration between The Conversation U.S. and Georgia State University’s Evidence-Based Cybersecurity Research Group, directed by Professor David Maimon.

                  The research group develops techniques to improve cybersecurity by studying online criminal networks and observing underground markets. Two years ago, Maimon and his team saw a large number of stolen checks flooding those markets. They then noticed the marketing of drop accounts – bank accounts created by using fictitious identities that money is “dropped” into – that can be used for check fraud.

                  Criminals rapidly figured out that an array of frauds could be facilitated by drop accounts. Building on the research group’s work, The Conversation investigated gangs that relied on, purchased or sold drop accounts, identities, checks and other materials to perpetrate their criminal activities.

                  The joint investigation provides an unprecedented look into a vast, secret enterprise that has stayed hidden in the darkest reaches of the internet, and exposed the huge scale of financial losses suffered by the public.

                  And from our Australian edition some background articles on the unfoldling Titanic submarine story:

                    a.. As the clock ticks on the Titan sub, an expert explains what safety features a submersible should have

                    b.. Why the Titanic disaster continues to enthral
                 
                          Kurt Eichenwald

                        Senior Investigative Editor
                       
                 
                   
                  Heists Worth Billions: An investigation found criminal gangs using sham bank accounts and secret online marketplaces to steal from almost anyone – and little being done to combat the fraud 
                  David Maimon, Georgia State University; Kurt Eichenwald, The Conversation 

                  Check fraud is one of history’s oldest financial crimes and criminals are finding new ways to use it to steal billions from banks.
                 
                   
                  As the clock ticks on the Titan sub, an expert explains what safety features a submersible should have 
                  Eric Fusil, University of Adelaide 

                  Most submersible designers would elect to have a classification society certify a vessel’s design. OceanGate made the conscious decision to refuse to do this for the Titan.
                 
                       
                          a.. China’s economic recovery is built on increasingly shaky foundations and that could affect the whole world 
                          Kent Matthews, Cardiff University 

                          China is trying to revive its economy to reach pre-COVID heights but future growth rates might be closer to developed economies like the US and UK.

                          b.. China and the US are talking again – so, where does the relationship go from here? 
                          David S G Goodman, University of Sydney 

                          Both sides have stressed the importance of dialogue in order to avoid confrontation. Can relations between the two continue to improve?

                          c.. The Greek migrant shipwreck is another preventable tragedy at the borders of Europe 
                          Gemma Bird, University of Liverpool 

                          This is far from the first time the Hellenic coastguard has faced accusations of endangering asylum seekers lives at sea.

                          d.. How scammers use psychology to create some of the most convincing internet cons – and what to watch out for 
                          Stacey Wood, Scripps College; Yaniv Hanoch, University of Southampton 

                          ‘Pig butchering’, fake apps and missing person scams and conning people out of huge amounts of money.

                          e.. Microbiome: certain gut microbes may warn of Alzheimer’s disease long before the first symptoms begin 
                          Catherine Purse, Quadram Institute 

                          A machine learning algorithm was able to accurately predict those with preclinical Alzheimer’s disease based on their gut microbe composition.

                          f.. African leaders in Sierra Leone played a key role in ending the transatlantic slave trade 
                          Bronwen Everill, University of Cambridge 

                          Africans should get more credit for the abolition of the slave trade.

                          g.. How the ancient Greeks kept ruthless narcissists from capturing their democracy – and what modern politics could learn from them 
                          Steve Taylor, Leeds Beckett University 

                          Those who seek power for the sake of power are less attracted to high office when more people get a say.
                       
                 
                 
                   
                  The world’s fish are shrinking as the climate warms. We’re trying to figure out why 
                  Timothy Clark, Deakin University 

                  As the world gets hotter, fish are getting smaller. The future of aquatic ecosystems – and fisheries – could depend on understanding how and why it’s happening.
                 
                    
                    
                    
                    
                          
                        You’re receiving this newsletter from The Conversation

                       
                        Tenancy B, Level 5 700 Swanston Street Carlton VIC 3053 Australia 
                       
                        Forward to a friend  
                       



                  From: The Conversation 
                  Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2023 10:32 AM
                  Subject: Special investigation sheds light on criminal gangs and sham bank accounts 
           
           
           
     
 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.enwl.net.ru/pipermail/enwl-eng/attachments/20230622/94ff55a9/attachment-0001.html>