https://www.corrieredellacalabria.i...nsulenti-ingegneri-informatici-e-hacker/cybercrime
No more hitmen, the 'ndrangheta is looking for "consultants, computer engineers and hackers"
Businesses Under Attack. Computer Fraud, Online Financial Transactions: Criminal Leadership Measured on the Web
Published: 08/10/2024 – 11:07
COSENZA From the real world to the virtual one. Platforms change, technology evolves, interests change: even mafias oscillate between the real and virtual worlds .
Libera , in its latest report, turns the spotlight on cybercrime : targeted attacks with ransom requests, « in frightening growth, in particular following the two years of the pandemic ». Lifestyles have changed following the spread of the Covid virus and consequently also the habits of workers “forced” for long periods to work in smart working and constantly on the PC. What a few months ago seemed like a forced and temporary reorganization has instead turned into a habit and many companies have transferred a large part of their work to the internet. A necessary and almost obligatory choice to keep up with the times and streamline procedures, cutting costs and execution times. But not all companies know the real dangers of the web, they underestimate cyber pirates and the oppressive presence of the 'ndrangheta always alert when it is possible to obtain easy profits. According to data provided by the National Cyber ??Security Agency (ACN), more than 100,000 cyber attacks against the country's critical infrastructure were recorded in 2023. The State Police recorded a significant increase in cyber crime reports, with a 25% increase compared to the previous year.
Phishing, ransomware, fraud
Messages inviting people to click on fake links, emails designed to defraud consumers, unmissable offers at rock-bottom prices proposed by unknown hackers hunting for easy prey. These are some examples of online fraud , phishing and ransomware that in over 40% of cases «come from sources outside of Italy». It is easy to imagine how mafia organizations have begun to consider cybercrime as an easily accessible source of income, «which requires a modest investment in exchange for potentially high earnings».
The Cybercriminal
Nighttime is the best time to carry out the heists. The cybercriminal acts when it is dark and when the victims are far from their computer devices . «More and more frequently, the ransom requested is in bitcoins, which are purchased on sales platforms, transferred to an electronic wallet and sent to an address provided by the extortionist (a 27-character alphanumeric code). From there, the virtual currencies are “unpacked” and made to disappear in tax havens such as Hong Kong, Singapore or the very popular Seychelles and Maldives ». «Only when the bitcoin is transformed into real money is there a remote possibility of identifying the extortionist, but then one has to deal with offshore countries, which rarely cooperate with the judicial authorities».
Data in Calabria
The numbers contained in the Libera report and which concern Calabria are alarming. As regards « computer scams and frauds, 7,291 crimes were recorded in 2023, with an increase of 6.7% compared to 2022 ». The province of Cosenza recorded the highest number of crimes related to computer scams and frauds , « with 2,343 cases, followed by the province of Reggio Calabria with 2,231 and Catanzaro with 2,231. In percentage terms, the province of Vibo Valentia is the one that recorded the highest increase in crimes compared to 2022, with an increase of 14% ».
On the other hand, the number of crimes related to computer crimes is decreasing: in Calabria, in 2023, 628 crimes were recorded, compared to 795 in 2022.
The 'ndrangheta is not looking for hitmen but engineers
During a recent visit to Calabria, in Cosenza, Prefect Vittorio Rizzi (an investigator with great experience, with a professional background in the world of security) focused on the ability of mafias to adapt and exploit new technologies. " The real recipe is to respond to a global criminal phenomenon with a global alliance (...) the most effective means exist but we must always be one step ahead of those who use them illegally." The challenge is arduous, not only for those who suffer cyber attacks and end up in the hackers' network but also for those who are engaged daily in activities to combat criminals.
The prosecutor of Naples, Nicola Gratteri , recently had the opportunity to reveal a particular detail linked to the illegal action committed by a Calabrian clan. " A 'ndrangheta family hired German and Romanian hackers to make financial transactions in the space of 20 minutes in banks located on 3 different continents ."
The national anti-mafia and anti-terrorism prosecutor Giovanni Melillo , interviewed by Corriere della Sera , recalls how « computer consultants and engineers are now among the most valuable resources of criminal organizations too » and how «virtual space has become the fundamental organizational cornerstone of the most dangerous forms of organized crime. Criminal structures and leadership are increasingly selected based on their ability to govern technologies ». (f.benincasa@corrierecal.it)
