• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Jobs
  • Career
    • Cyber Security Training
    • Work from Home
    • Cyber Security Analyst
    • Remote Work – Six Ways to Keep Your Data Safe When Working Remotely
  • Field Guide
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Deals
  • News
AskCyberSecurity.com

AskCyberSecurity.com

Cyber Security News & Information

  • Home
  • Data Privacy
    • Gamers
    • Government Cyber Security
      • Legislation
      • Standards
        • What are the risks of computer security?
        • Medical Cyber Security
    • Social Media
  • Security
    • Data Breaches
    • Scams
    • Malware
  • Software
    • Apps
    • Web Browsers
  • Glossary
    • Cyber Security Acronyms
  • About Ask Cyber Security
    • Authors
    • Contact Us
  • VPN
    • How Do I Know If My VPN is Working?
    • Best Free VPN iPhone
    • Why Use a VPN?
    • NordVPN vs IPVanish
    • Private Internet Access Download
    • Best VPN for Streaming
      • TikTok VPN
    • VPN Porn
    • Computer Security Software – What You Really Need
  • Tutorials
  • ChatGPT
    • Does ChatGPT Save Data?
AskCyber Home » News » News » UK Suspects Arrested in SIM Swap Attacks on US Celebrities

UK Suspects Arrested in SIM Swap Attacks on US Celebrities

2021-02-16 by Michelle Dvorak

NCA SIMSwap Attack US Celebs

British, Scottish Charged with Stealing Online Accounts, Money

Eight men were arrested in England and Scotland for their roles in SIM swapping attacks. The victims were all celebrities in the United States. The suspects range in age from 18 to 26 years old.

The victims are well-known influencers, sports stars, famous musicians, and their families in the United States. The attackers chose these targets because of their perceived wealth.

The attackers gained access to the victims’ phones via a type of cyberattack known as SIM swapping. They then used the devices to gain access to online accounts associated with that phone number.

The victims were relieved of large sums of money from either their bank accounts or bitcoin wallets.

SEE ALSO Finland MP Emails Compromised in Cyber attack

The suspects were charged under the Computer Misuse Act, as well as fraud and money laundering charges. Also, they may be extradited to the States for prosecution says the US Secret Service in their announcement.

The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) led the UK investigation on the attacks.

“NCA Cyber Crime officers, working with agents from the U.S. Secret Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI and the Santa Clara California District Attorney’s Office, uncovered a network of criminals in the UK working together to access victims’ phone numbers and take control of their apps or accounts by changing the passwords,” states an announcement from the US Secret Service.

The operation was coordinated by the NCA and involved officers from Police Scotland, the Metropolitan Police Service, East Midlands and North East Special Operations Units, and the West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit.

What is SIM Swapping?

SIM swapping attacks occur when the attacker steals access to a victim’s phone by changing the SIM card the victim’s wireless account is attached to.

After gaining control of the phone number, criminals use the ‘change password’ function on installed apps. This lets them receive password reset codes sent via SMS text messages.

Once the user’s phone number and device ID are attacked to another SIM card) the attackers used it to steal online accounts. The suspects could use the phone to reset passwords, intercept text message used for two-factor authentication (2FA) and hijack social media accounts.

SEE ALSO Yandex Employee Breached Customer Emails

The fraudsters can also access email accounts to find out which online accounts are connected to it. They use SMS text messages and emails to reset passwords and steal money,

“Cyber criminality is not restricted by borders and our efforts to tackle it reflect that. This investigation is the result of successful collaboration with international partners in the U.S. and Europol, as well as our law enforcement colleagues here in the UK,” said Paul Creffield, head of operations in the NCA’s National Cyber Crime Unit.

Some attacks were intercepted and the targets notified with enough time to stop any theft.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Europe, United Kingdom

About Michelle Dvorak

Michelle writes about cyber security, data privacy focusing on social media privacy as well as how to protect your IoT devices. She has worked in internet technology for over 20 years and owns METRONY, LLC. Michelle earned a B.S. in Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Michelle published a guide to Cyber Security for Business Travelers


LinkedInTwitterFacebook

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Our Free Newsletter

We Don't Share or Sell Your Info

Web Browsers

Where Are My Saved Passwords in Chrome?

Google Removes 70 Malicious Browser Add-ons from Chrome Web Store

Firefox 75 Reports Your Browser Settings to Mozilla

Categories

Cyber Security Field Guide

Computer Security While TravelingGet Our Cyber Security Field Guide - Available on Amazon!

Recent Posts

Security Marketing Manager – Remote

Sr. Associate, Cybersecurity Architect – Pfizer

Strategic Customer Success Manager – Cybersecurity – Opportunity for Working Remotely

Top 20 Passwords Leaked on Dark Web

ISU Cybersecurity Leader Job Opening

Cyber Security News

Top 20 Passwords Leaked on Dark Web

… [Read More...] about Top 20 Passwords Leaked on Dark Web

Apple Warns of Actively Exploited Zero-Day Flaw

… [Read More...] about Apple Warns of Actively Exploited Zero-Day Flaw

IRS Stops Facial Recognition System for Online Access

… [Read More...] about IRS Stops Facial Recognition System for Online Access

National Cybersecurity Alliance Announces Data Privacy Week

… [Read More...] about National Cybersecurity Alliance Announces Data Privacy Week

More Cyber Security News

Tags

amazon Android Apple bitcoin China chrome CISA credit card DarkSide DHS DOJ Equifax Europe Facebook facial recognition FBI Firefox FTC games GDPR Google Government hacker identity theft India iPhone Iran IRS LinkedIn Microsoft North Korea PayPal phishing phishing email ransomware REvil Russia smartphone T-Mobile TikTok tutorial VPN WhatsApp WiFi Windows

Government

CBP Looks to Access Airline Passenger Data

FTC Releases Cyber Threat Video Playlist

Malware Found on US Government Funded Phones

UK NCA Reaches Out to Youth to Deter Cybercrimes

More Posts from this Category

Footer

Menu

  • Home
  • About
  • Authors
  • Newsletter Signup
  • PRIVACY POLICY

Search

Why Use a VPN?

NordVPN vs IPVanish VPN Review

NAVIGATION

  • Data Breaches
  • Data Privacy
  • Gamers
  • Scams
  • Malware

MEMBER NJCCIC

New Jersey Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Cell

STAY CONNECTED

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Twitter
  • RSS

Copyright © 2023 · AskCyberSecurity.com · METRONY, LLC

Go to mobile version