MALAGA – A cybercriminal has been arrested in Marbella accused of swindling €28,000 from a company in Villanueva de Córdoba.
As reported by Diariosur.es, the arrest was thanks to a new police unit specialising in cybercrime. The unit, ‘Equipo@’ of the Guardia Civil in Córdoba was investigating cybercriminals as part of Operation Ceobec. This was related to fraud against companies in the province of Córdoba. The cybercriminal using the ‘B.E.C.’ method. Ultimately, this resulted in the arrest of a person in Marbella. Furthermore, he is accused of swindling €28,000 from a company in Villanueva de Córdoba.
Intercepting or redirecting financial transactions
The ‘B.E.C.’ method uses a ‘modus operandi’ in which cybercriminals impersonate email accounts of various organisations, institutions, and companies, with the end goal of intercepting or redirecting their financial transactions.
Investigations began during the months of May and June of this year after the company in Villanueva, Córdoba filed a complaint.
The Villanueva company was scammed into thinking they were having an email conversation with one of their address book contacts. However, it is really the cybercriminal. The victim quite innocently agrees to proposals and to make payments to bank accounts in return for the shipment of goods.
Compromised email domains
The special cybercrime unit analysed the computer equipment and the compromised email domains. Furthermore, they managed to clarify the facts and block the account in time so that those affected could recover the swindled money once the judicial process is over.
As a result of the investigation, it was possible to identify the alleged cybercriminal. Subsequently, a 44-year-old Spanish person and resident in the town of Marbella, has been arrested for the alleged crimes of fraud, false documents, and disclosure of secrets
Operation Ceobec still open
The Guardia Civil operation remains open and, therefore, new arrests are not ruled out. In the meantime, the detainee and the proceedings carried out have been handed over to the judicial authority.
Also read: Cybercrime campaign #YouMayBeNext
