The State Security Service (SSS) of Azerbaijan has identified some members of an international cybercrime network that, through fake WhatsApp accounts, impersonated executives and law enforcement officials to demand that government employees and company staff transfer money to foreign accounts. International legal procedures have been initiated against the suspects.
According to the SSS statement, the criminal groups operate outside Azerbaijan and are led by foreign nationals.
The targets included government officials and employees of various enterprises and organizations. To carry out the scheme, criminals used Azerbaijani mobile operator numbers and created fake accounts on social networks and messengers.
Using specialized computer programs, they mass-collected contact details of employees from official websites of state structures and organizations. Then, they created fake WhatsApp profiles using photos of the heads of the respective institutions.
From these accounts, employees received messages of an allegedly "urgent" nature. After establishing contact, they were redirected to another fake profile, whose owner posed as a law enforcement representative.
Subsequently, the recipients were instructed to transfer money to foreign accounts or fulfill other demands.
During operational and investigative measures, some members of the criminal network were identified. International legal procedures have already been launched against them.
Work to fully expose the group continues jointly with competent authorities of foreign states, security services of international technology companies, and operators of relevant platforms.
The SSS urged citizens not to trust suspicious messages on social networks and messengers, even if the account is in the name of an acquaintance, executive, or representative of a state body. Such contacts should be promptly reported to the relevant authorities.
