Scammers Exploit Australia’s Cybercrime Portal to Steal

TLDR

• Australia cybercriminals use stolen data to impersonate AFP officers and steal cryptocurrency via ReportCyber.
• Scammers create urgency by providing fake case numbers and spoofing police phone lines.
• AFP warns real officers never ask for access to crypto accounts or banking information.
• Criminals manipulate ReportCyber’s platform to pressure victims into transferring digital assets.
• ASIC has removed over 14,000 scam websites, with cryptocurrency fraud making up 20% of removals.

Cybercriminals in Australia have found a new way to scam victims by exploiting the government’s official cybercrime reporting system, ReportCyber. Fraudsters are using stolen personal data to impersonate Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers and trick people into transferring their cryptocurrency. The Australian Federal Police issued a warning this week, urging citizens to be cautious of these scams.

Fake Police Calls and False Reports

The criminals are taking advantage of the ReportCyber platform, a system designed for citizens to report cybercrimes. After submitting fraudulent reports using stolen personal details, the scammers contact victims, posing as AFP officers. They claim the victim’s personal information is connected to an ongoing cryptocurrency investigation.

The fraudsters go a step further by creating a sense of urgency. They provide fake case reference numbers and pressure victims into transferring digital assets into fake “secure” wallets. To increase the credibility of their scams, the fraudsters even spoof phone numbers that resemble legitimate AFP lines.

Pressure Tactics and Personal Data Exploitation

Detective Superintendent Marie Andersson from the AFP stated that these scams succeed because criminals use real personal data from ReportCyber reports. The scammers can verify personal details that appear to match typical expectations. By acting quickly and creating a sense of urgency, the fraudsters pressure victims into complying with their demands.

In one case, a victim received a call from a supposed police officer. The caller claimed the victim’s name had been involved in a cryptocurrency data breach. After providing a fabricated reference number, the caller handed the victim off to a “crypto platform representative” who urged the victim to transfer funds for safekeeping.

Real Police Do Not Ask for Crypto Access

The AFP has made it clear that real officers will never ask for access to cryptocurrency accounts, seed phrases, or banking information. Authorities have urged Australians to be on high alert and to hang up if contacted by someone claiming to be from the AFP regarding a ReportCyber submission they did not make.

This incident comes amid broader concerns about cryptocurrency-related scams in Australia. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has been cracking down on scams, including removing over 14,000 scam and phishing websites since July 2023. Crypto-related fraud has become a significant target for Australian regulators, with cryptocurrency schemes accounting for a substantial portion of the scams.

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