TACKLING the threats posed by telephone scams and other social engineering fraud was the focus of an INTERPOL meeting on financial crimes held in China. The 7th Meeting of the INTERPOL Anti-Transnational Financial Crime Working Group brought together experts to discuss the global response to several types of fraud scams which criminal networks are using to swindle unsuspecting victims out of their money. The three-day meeting looked at three key topics telecom fraud, social engineering and money laundering. Telecom fraud is a growing concern across Asia and beyond. Criminal enterprises set up call centres in various countries, often targeting elderly individuals by pretending to be government officials, police officers or bank managers and requesting the victims make urgent payments. INTERPOL has coordinated several operations targeting telecom fraud in Asia. Operation First Light in 2016 led to the arrest of more than 1,500 individuals as police shut down more than a dozen illicit call centres in Asia and Europe. “The use of technology to commit fraud is not new. But the Internet and social media now enable criminals to expand their geographical reach, to diversify their targets and activities, often without even the need for in-person interactions or a physical presence,” said INTERPOL President Kim Jong Yang.
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