Organised Crime stories

Sydney skincare founder says chargeback scams have stripped tens of thousands from her AUD $500,000-a-year brand as fraud pressure builds.

Foreign banks in Australia face pressure to tighten anti-money laundering checks after AUSTRAC found weak reporting, blind spots and money mule exposure.

Cambodia scam compounds are being tied to a mobile banking fraud network that hit users in 21 countries, researchers say.

ASIC ramps up AI scam fight as it takes down 11,964 bogus investment websites and warns of slicker ads, fake endorsements and cloaking tactics.

Auror recognised by Loss Prevention Research Council for engaging retailers and police on organised retail crime in the US.

AI tools and cost-of-living strain see Australian lenders block AUD $1.5 billion in loan fraud as money mule cases almost double.

AI-fuelled scams help push illicit finance to an estimated USD $4.4 trillion in 2025, with fraud losses hitting USD $579.4 billion.

Bitdefender exposes 26,000 Meta ads in 25 countries pushing fake investment schemes, impersonating banks, media and public figures.

Global ransomware attacks jump 50% to 7,874 in 2025, with industrial firms bearing the brunt as criminal groups reshuffle their tactics.

Scammers hijack Israel-Iran war headlines for classic advance-fee email cons, security researchers warn, urging users not to respond.

Global ransomware attacks fell 17% in January, but NCC warns evolving tactics, AI and messaging apps mean risk is not receding.

INTERPOL's Africa cybercrime blitz nets 651 arrests, seizes 2,341 devices and recovers USD $4.3m after scams linked to USD $45m losses.

Dark web 'fraud superstores' expand slick services but LexisNexis research finds AI liveness and deepfake checks still foil many scams.

NCC flags fourth straight monthly rise in ransomware attacks and growing efforts by major gangs to recruit insiders and cyber staff.

Ransomware gangs are stepping up efforts to recruit insiders, warns NCC Group, as December 2025 attacks jump 13% to 784 globally.

Rob Demain warns that cyber campaigns on critical infrastructure are demanding behaviour-led defence over compliance.

Fortinet will use Davos to push cross-sector incentives for cyber intel sharing, accountability and deterrence in a booming crime ecosystem.

Dark web vendors sell UK ID packs for about USD $30, helping criminals bypass biometric checks at banks and fintechs, AMLTRIX warns.

Banks are set to embed AI deep into payment systems by 2026, slashing costs as fraud surges and pressure mounts on platforms and regulators.

Linxens has launched Hint, a hidden sensor for e-passports and ID cards that alerts border checks to deliberate chip tampering and fraud.