IOLR

Instances of online theft of bank card data using new methods and technological developments have become more frequent in Azerbaijan. As Report informs, this is stated in a statement by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in which citizens are warned against the actions of telephone scammers.

According to the department, the attackers use artificial intelligence to clone voices, imitating the manner of speech of close relatives, and also use imitated electronic numbers for calls. As a result, the scammers fraudulently obtain card data.

“If the caller introduces himself as your relatives and asks for bank card data, be sure to ask clarifying questions. This way you can make sure that this voice was not created using artificial intelligence. Once again, we remind citizens: never give out your bank card data. The security of your data depends on you,” the Ministry of Internal Affairs said in its statement.

Azerbaijani border guards prevented smuggling of over 7 kg of drugs from Iran. This was informed to Report by the State Border Service.

Iranian citizen Mollai Meysen Allahbakhish (born in 1984) was detained on the service territory of the Goytepe border detachment while attempting to smuggle 7 kg 145 g of narcotics.

Investigative measures are ongoing on the fact.

An appeal by a member of an international cyber criminal network, Ukrainian citizen Andrey Borisovich Serb, who is under arrest in Azerbaijan, has been reviewed. As Report informs, the accused requested parole due to health problems.

According to the examination conducted in this regard, no grounds for the early release of Andrey Borisovich Serb were identified. At the meeting, a decision was made to reject his petition for parole.

Thus, in May 2018, the State Security Service of Azerbaijan, together with the Financial Market Supervision Authority, revealed that millions of funds were stolen from other people’s bank accounts using POS terminals received from Azerbaijani banks by creating fictitious companies and opening their bank accounts. These funds were transferred to local bank accounts and then to accounts in CIS countries, which resulted in material damage to local banks, which had to return illegally received funds to foreign citizens.

During the investigation, Russian citizen Pavel Lunin and Ukrainian citizen Andrey Serb, who are suspected of committing cybercrimes, were detained. The funds in their bank accounts were frozen, and the return of stolen funds in the amount of about 2 million manats was ensured.

The Baku Court of Grave Crimes sentenced both to 12 years in prison.