Security News > 2022 > November > French-speaking voleurs stole $30m in 15-country bank, telecoms cyber-heist spree

A French-speaking criminal group codenamed OPERA1ER has pulled off more than 30 cyber-heists against telecom organizations and banks across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, stealing upwards of $30 million over four years, according to security researchers.

In one robbery, "a network of more than 400 mule subscriber accounts were used to quickly cash out stolen funds mostly done overnight via ATMs," the researchers wrote in a report this month.

The gang didn't deploy any bespoke malware, and instead used open source code along with tools they could find for free on the dark web.

Many of the victim companies were attacked twice, and the crooks used these businesses' infrastructure to attack other organizations.

Criminals used VPNs to cover their tracks.

While the oldest-known domain registered and used by the group for its underworld activities was created in 2016, the report tracks the criminals' activity from 2018 to 2022.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2022/11/04/french_opera1er_group_ib/