After making millions by launching unemployment-related identity frauds in states like Florida, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Washington, Wyoming, and Hawaii, a hacker gang from Nigeria seems to have diverted their focus to Texas digitally invading the Workforce Commission Website.
Furthermore, the hacker’s group started the distribution of a 13-page reference guide in PDF form on WhatsApp where the cybercriminals are seen detailing how to commit fraud and claim job loss benefits from the unemployment websites if in case they lose jobs due to COVID 19 shutdown or slowdown.
Cybersecurity firm Agari discovered this online fraud and revealed it to the world stating that the cybercriminals were seen targeting unemployment exchanges across the world.
A report published by Agari states that Texas state lost more than $890 million to fraudulent claims in the year 2020 and if this continues, the loss might touch the billion mark within no time.
Going with the figures registered last year in other states, Florida stands tall in the losing stream as estimates are that cyber crooks managed to gain over $980 million from Florida in the name of fraudulent unemployment benefits. Followed by Washington with $940m and North Carolina with $910m worth of fraudulent claims.
Meanwhile, early this month, an assistant to Nigerian Governor was arrested by the US police in New York for committing million-dollar unemployment benefits fraud. The name of the culprit is Abidemi Rufai aka Sandy Tang and the 42-year-old was charged with 6 rounds of wire fraud where he was accused of stealing identities of more than 100 people from Washington to claim unemployment benefits worth $350,000 and then transferred to some online accounts of some money mules.
Washington State Employment Security Department was asked to file a complaint against the accused on Monday this week that could lead the law enforcement to make a wider investigation about the fraud that also involves some nationals from countries like Iran, Israel, Pakistan, and Bangladesh along with Africa.
More details are awaited!
