Nat´l probe team formed to tackle banking fraud

The police detected an online fraud scheme in spring and summer this year in which criminals are phishing for online banking codes for malicious purposes.

The police have set up a national investigation team to tackle this crime, said the National Police Board in a press release on Thursday.

This particular crime series relates to the online banking fraud scheme on which the National Bureau of Investigation released information on 23 June 2021 (Finns have lost millions of Euros in banking frauds - Distinguishing fake websites from genuine ones may be difficult).

It is typical of these offences that criminals gain access to victims' online banking details and then unlawfully transfer money from their accounts.

Criminals have targeted several banks and their customers in Finland. The police have filed approximately 700 reports of fraud and means-of-payment fraud in 2021.

The first victims of phishing and subsequent fraud were senior citizens, but now people of all ages have become victims. Criminal damages total close to seven million euros.

When the modus operandi was analysed, it turned out that criminals commit the offences in two phases. First, they phish for online banking codes through malicious links within text messages or emails, or with the help of search engine optimisation.

Victims click on these links assuming that they are logging into their own online bank, while actually giving their banking details to criminals on a malicious website.

Next, criminals start to use the stolen banking details. The police have identified two main ways of operation. The first one is to add money transfers to the list of unconfirmed payments on victims' online bank accounts.

Ignorant victims then confirm the payments with their signature codes or, if they have doubts, try to log into their own banks through the fake website. The other, more sophisticated way is to add criminals' own devices to the list of approved devices on victims' bank accounts, after which fraudsters are able to confirm payments themselves.

Due to the seriousness and scale of the online banking fraud scheme and the criminal phenomenon in general, the police have taken joint action to tackle and prevent the crime.

“The police have set up a national investigation team for a fixed period of time. All local police departments have their representatives in the team, which is led by the National Bureau of Investigation,” said Chief Superintendent Tuomas Pöyhönen of the National Police Board.

The members of the national investigation team are specialised in investigating cybercrime, tracking movements of money and tracing criminal proceeds. They also have expertise in international mutual legal assistance procedures that need to be followed to prevent the phenomenon and investigate the cases.

The main goal of the team is to identify the suspect and establish criminal liability. It is also important to prevent any damage caused by crime and to develop nationwide, uniform operational models, while taking account of crime prevention goals and the fight against the phenomenon in general.

“Unfortunately, online fraud is a widespread and very harmful criminal phenomenon. That is why it was necessary and justified to set up a national investigation team to effectively fight the phenomenon. It is of utmost importance to prevent criminal acts, raise public awareness and alertness about the modi operandi, and to enhance cooperation between those involved, such as the banks and the police, to minimise criminal damages, says the tactical leader of the team,” Senior Detective Superintendent of the National Bureau of Investigation Mikko Kiiski said.