Phishers Use Ukraine Invasion To Solicit Cryptocurrency
Phishers are impersonating legitimate aid organisations to steal donations intended for Ukrainian people.
The threat detection firm Expel has released new research pertaining to the campaign, in which they detail multiple phishing emails referencing the invasion of Ukraine to target crypto currency. “Since the start of the invasion of Ukraine, threat actors have specifically begun to impersonate legitimate aid organisations to exploit people’s desire to support refugees and victims with donations,” Expel said.
Malicious emails detected included headlines asking recipients to help save Ukrainian children and seeking donations. One of the individuals who the threat actors impersonated via the phishing emails was Aronov Maxim, a doctor at Smile Children’s Hospital in Ukraine.
This chain of emails email told targets that a children’s clinic had been destroyed because of the Russian invasion and that donations were needed “to help the sick and wounded children.” Some of the emails claim that the usual portals through which donations are received were currently closed due to the damage brought by the invasions, suggesting a crypto currency donation to a specific digital wallet instead.
Expel condemned the attacks, stating that the threat actors were taking advantage of the crisis in Ukraine and exploiting its vulnerable population for personal gain.
Expel advises legitimate donors to check the public wallet address and transaction history before sending money.
It is also thought that Russia could begin to rely on crypto as a form of currency since the “international financial rules and regulations are not as easily applied to cryptocurrency,” says Adam Levin, a cyber security expert and host of the “What the Hack” podcast. “It’s no surprise Russians are using it in the face of economic sanctions,” he says.
Decrypt: Oodaloop: Infosecurity Magazine: Expel: Avast: Time: Adam Levin:
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