Equipped with a hidden reader that penetrates the phone as soon as it is connected to the charger

«Hackers» use wireless chargers to steal phone data

  • Khalid Al Junaibi: "There is a wide online black market where stolen data is sold, whether bank cards or information belonging to victims."

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The Chief Prosecutor of the Deira Prosecution, an expert in cybercrime, Counselor Dr. Khalid Al-Junaibi, warned of advanced methods that have spread globally to hack smartphones and steal their data, including bank card numbers, including ostensibly wireless chargers, but they hide a reader device that penetrates the phone as soon as it is used.

Al Junaibi told Emirates Today that the biggest problem in cybercrime, which everyone should be aware of, is that it moves at a frightening speed across the world, because it is just an idea that turns into a method that cybercriminals circulate, without the need to move themselves from one place to another.

He revealed that there is a vast black market online where stolen data is sold, whether bank cards or information belonging to victims.

In detail, Al Junaibi said that there are advanced methods of hacking phone and banking data, including a modern monitoring method through types of wireless chargers for the phone, as hackers were able to provide them with a smart reader that steals phone data, once connected to the charger, and transmitted directly to the fraudster.

He added that to avoid falling into the trap of this method, which has been monitored in several countries, chargers and connecting wires "cables" of the traditional charger must be purchased from official stores and approved companies, and avoid buying them from unknown parties, whether online or from regular markets.

He explained that resorting to cheap products is the most prominent mistakes that lead to falling into the trap of electronic penetration, such as buying meals in the name of famous restaurants, such as pizza or burgers, at less than their value, and once the card data is entered, its balance is withdrawn, so the buyer loses his money just because he is greedy to save a few dirhams.

He stressed that electronic fraudsters are constantly developing their methods, and programs have been monitored abroad that simulate the image and sound, which can by obtaining 20 minutes recorded for the owner of the original voice to fabricate a recording of him and use it to defraud others, explaining that they impersonate celebrities such as artists and politicians to communicate with ordinary people and deceive them.

He added that there are also programs that can simulate handwriting and manual signature in a very professional way using artificial intelligence as well, to the extent that it is difficult to distinguish them by forensic experts, calling on members of the community to verify by more than one means of the documents granted to them.

Al Junaibi stressed that the index of cybercrime, especially fraud by these methods, is still low in the UAE compared to other countries, but there is a need to raise the awareness of community members, especially in light of the country's strong digital infrastructure and great strides in the field of smart services.

He pointed out that there is a huge market for stolen data, especially bank cards, sold online abroad, and all types of cards are available, warning of two very important things, the first of which is the penetration of that data when conducting transactions when traveling, or involvement in the use of stolen data through intermediaries who sell it online.

Al-Junaibi said that there are similar cases that the Public Prosecution dealt with previously, such as the case of a person who bought three cars from an agency using cards obtained from that black market abroad, and the agency took its usual procedures and carried out the purchase process in light of obtaining funds through cards, but it was later discovered that they were stolen, after the cars were delivered.

He added that the legal situation was entangled after the sale of the cars, as the people who bought them did not have legal responsibility, and in the end the case reached the civil court regarding the cars themselves, while the user of those cards was referred to the criminal court for his involvement in a cybercrime.

Suspicious transactions

The First Chief Prosecutor at the Deira Prosecution, an expert in cybercrime, Counselor Dr. Khalid Al-Junaibi, stated that everyone must review himself before getting involved in accepting suspicious transactions, as there are those who offer to pay violations or renew commercial licenses and other government services for others in exchange for paying a value lower than the usual fees for these services, and some agree and consider it an opportunity to obtain services at an attractive price, although this is illogical and clearly suspicious, in light of the failure to announce The service is for any kind of reduction, and then this person falls under the law for obtaining money of suspicious origin, even if it is not possible without knowledge. He stressed the need to use official channels to pay service fees, and not to deal with unknown or suspicious persons, to avoid criminal partnership.