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Widespread Phishing Scam Discovered In Saudi Arabia
Group-IB, a global cybersecurity firm, has published research into a scheme where scammers impersonate one of the leading manpower agencies in Saudi Arabia.
Analysts from a leading cybersecurity firm, Group-IB, have uncovered a massive phishing scam operation meant to impersonate one of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s top recruitment agencies.
The cybersecurity team found at least 1,000 malicious domains during their research, with most containing a close match to a well-known Saudi agency that offers assistance in hiring employees for the construction and services sector, as well as domestic workers. Scams of this nature are growing at a rate of 10% per year, with more than $55 billion stolen during 2021 alone.
How The Scam Worked
The fake domains and their associated URLs were meant to fool people into thinking they’re the real deal. In addition, each domain featured convincing web pages designed to mimic the official agency website. Scammers were using these web pages to convince people to enter their data, hoping to harvest banking details, as well as both login information and two-factor authentication (2FA) codes.
To drive traffic to these fraudulent websites, the criminals used multiple layers of social engineering, first using ads on Facebook, Twitter, and Google that encouraged SMS or WhatsApp conversations, and then sending unwitting users to the fake sites to enter their details.
Once a user had landed on a fake domain, they were persuaded to part with a small processing fee of 50 or 100 SAR (approximately $13 or $27), which enabled the scammers to harvest banking data to empty accounts and make off with user’s hard-earned cash.
Also Read: Is Your Phone Hacked? How To Find Out & Protect Yourself
“Scammers are becoming increasingly resourceful and collaborative, and spoof domain brokers are actively assisting cybercriminals. We encourage companies and organizations to monitor for signs of brand abuse, and we also urge internet users to remain vigilant so that they do not become victims of scams such as this,” says Mark Alpatskiy, CERT-GIB Senior Analyst.
Falling victim to a phishing scam can be costly, and Internet users are urged to show caution and always check URLs to verify they are legitimate before entering any personal data, as well as ensuring they are in communication with online chat services or call centers of the official company in question.
News
UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.
The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.
خلال ترؤسنا الاجتماع الأول للمجلس الأعلى للفضاء، بحثنا الاستثمارات الوطنية والمشاريع المقبلة في قطاع الفضاء والذي يشهد تطوراً مستمراً… وجددنا التزامنا بدعم ومواصلة تنفيذ برامج طموحة لاستكشاف الفضاء الخارجي حيث وصل حجم الاستثمارات في هذا القطاع إلى 40 مليار درهم خلال السنوات… pic.twitter.com/etJ33OnuSu
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 16, 2024
Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.
Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.
Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.
Also Read: IBM Opens New Doha Office To Support Qatar’s Digital Growth
The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.
The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.
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