Urgent warning to all mobile users as crooks plant FAKE contacts for banks – they can even pretend to be mum and dad
Cyber security experts have warned that the scam is a "truly global threat".
1
Experts believe crooks use it to fake being bank support callers
Credit: Getty
The latest danger leads victims to believe they're being called by a trusted person such as their bank, when actually it's the scammers behind it.
This means a "bank support" contact will appear on screen, leading targets to believe it's safe.
In doing so, bad actors can pretend to be your bank and dupe you into giving access to your account.
Technically, they could masquerade as anyone, such as loved ones or friends.
Read more about Android
It's all part of an evolved
Hackers can only modify contact lists of those infected by it.
"We believe the intent is to add a phone number under a convincing name such as 'Bank Support', allowing the attacker to call the victim while appearing legitimate," experts at Threat Fabric warned.
"This could also bypass fraud prevention measures that flag unknown numbers."
Most read in Tech
The cyber security firm first uncovered Crocodilus targeting people in Turkey in March.
But now the company claims it has spread to other countries across the globe.
Three little-known ways 'unknown tracker alerts' on Android can keep you safe
"With newly added features, Crocodilus is now more adept at harvesting sensitive information and evading detection," Threat Fabric continues.
"Notably, its campaigns are no longer regionally confined; the malware has extended its reach to new geographical areas, underscoring its transition into a truly global threat.
"This shift not only broadens the potential impact but also suggests a more organised and adaptive threat actor behind its deployment.
"As Crocodilus continues to evolve, organisations and users alike must stay vigilant and adopt proactive security measures to mitigate the risks posed by this increasingly sophisticated malware."
How to stay safe
As ever, money-grabbing malware of this kind usually comes from apps downloaded outside of the Google Play Store.
So it's best to stick to apps from the official platform.
It's also important to ensure you have
Must-know Android tips to boost your phone
Get the most out of your Android smartphone with these little-known hacks:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Woman, 31, who mugged her OAP partner on bus and called him ‘dirty dog' in terrifying broad daylight attack is jailed
Katie Bland went on to admit robbery, assault by beating, fraud and blackmail VILE ABUSE Woman, 31, who mugged her OAP partner on bus and called him 'dirty dog' in terrifying broad daylight attack is jailed A WOMAN who mugged her OAP partner on a bus and called him a "dirty dog" in the terrifying broad daylight attack has been jailed. Katie Bland turned violent against her partner and a woman trying to help - telling her she would "knock her jaw off". 2 Bland, 31, is from Greetland, West Yorkshire Credit: Getty 2 Katie Bland turned violent against her partner and a woman trying to help Credit: MEN Media Bland, 31, from Greetland, West Yorkshire, and the victim - a man in his 70s - had a tumultuous relationship that reached its boiling point on January 6 this year. Prosecutor Nathan Davis told Bradford Crown Court on Friday: "He left after an argument and she would call him and be abusive and ask for money." At around 4pm, Bland discovered he was at a bus station in Halifax and travelled to him where she called him a racist word and a "dirty dog". She then proceeded to grab him by the collar of his coat and throw him around as she cruelly demanded cash. read more news HORROR ATTACK Eight-year-old boy's thumb bitten off in savage XL Bully attack The pensioner offered Bland £20 - but she wanted his bank card. She then became aggressive when he refused to hand it over, instead offering the alternative of going to a cash point together to withdraw money. It was on the journey she became more violent and began kicking him in the leg and screaming at him. A woman who was witnessing the horror abuse then tried to intervene but Bland turned on her - grabbing her by the scarf and threatening to "knock her jaw off" if she "didn't shut the f*** up". Bland then continued to assault the elderly man and even managed to withdraw £40 from his bank account before cops showed up. She was arrested and answered "no comment" in her interview. Manhunt Launched in Northampton: River Nene Murder Investigation Underway Bland went on to admit robbery, assault by beating, fraud and blackmail. In his statement, the man said he has "never been so depressed or worried" in all of his life. His statement, read by prosecutor Nathan Davis, said: "I wake up and don't know how she is going to be. "I get abused daily. I lost all of my friends for my relationship. "My friends have told me what she is like and asks for money to buy drugs. "'Her behaviour is the last weeks has become worse. It has affected me to the point I want to give up with life. "I never want to come home due to the mess she has left in my house." The court heard how Bland, who appeared over a video link from HMP New Hall, had previous convictions on her record. She was actually the subject of a suspended sentence for another robbery at the time she committed those she fell to be sentenced for on Friday. Mitigating, Shila Whitehead, said: "What she tells me is she has been in custody since January. "She said she is aware her behaviour towards him was unacceptable and she is willing to accept help "She accepts at the time of committing these offences she was using drugs and was heavily dependant on them."
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Woman, 27, arrested after being caught travelling with girl, 2, stuffed inside SUITCASE
MONSTER 'MUM' Woman, 27, arrested after being caught travelling with girl, 2, stuffed inside SUITCASE A WOMAN in New Zealand has been arrested after being caught travelling with a two-year-old girl trapped inside her suitcase. An alarmed bus driver called the police when he spotted a moving bag at a stop in Kaiwaka - 62 miles north of Auckland. 2 The bus driver called the police who were stunned to find a two-year-old girl Credit: Getty Detective Inspector Simon Harrison said the woman, 27, was charged with ill-treatment and child neglect. "When the driver opened the suitcase, they discovered the two-year-old girl," Harrison said. "The little girl was reported to be very hot, but otherwise appeared physically unharmed." The luggage was stored in a separate compartment to where the passengers sat. Harrison said the girl is in hospital undergoing medical assessment. More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
How Monster of Rillington Place evaded justice for evil killing spree…& why secret doc could prove he had MORE victims
PURE EVIL How Monster of Rillington Place evaded justice for evil killing spree…& why secret doc could prove he had MORE victims JOHN Christie is one of Britain's most notorious serial killers - a soft-spoken gentleman on the outside but a perverse and sadistic predator underneath. He targeted women, usually strangling and raping his victims, before burying them in the garden at the infamous 10 Rillington Place, in Notting Hill, London. 16 Serial killer John Christie murdered at least eight victims, including a baby Credit: Alamy 16 Christie covers his face as he's led to court 16 10 Rillington Place in west London where Christie hid many of the bodies Credit: Getty Christie carried out a decade-long murder spree from 1943, initially while working as a War Reserve Police officer following the Blitz. The monster used his role patrolling the streets of London to hunt out his victims and hid behind his uniform to lure women into a false sense of security. Despite racking up a gruesome kill count of at least eight victims, Christie managed to fly under the radar, in part thanks to a police blunder. It was only after his crime spree was finally exposed that Christie became known as the "Monster of Rillington Place". Now The Sun can reveal that Christie may have admitted to more victims after a bombshell piece of evidence was uncovered. Kate Summerscale - who wrote The Peepshow, a book on Christie - has also told how the killer was able to evade detection for so long. She said: "His first murder, that we know of, was just a case of opportunity. 'He was patrolling the streets of London during black outs, during bombing raids - he had the authority of the uniform." She added: "There was such chaos during the blitz, during the war people went missing, bodies were found, it was an environment in which people who wanted to do things might feel the power to do them." Christie had invited 21-year-old Austrian munitions worker and prostitute Ruth Fuerst back to his flat on August 24, 1943, while his wife Ethel was away. New York's most feared serial killer told me he was hunting women, but wanted to be a 'hero.' After having sex, he impulsively strangled her and stowed her body beneath the floorboards. Christie then had a sinister change of heart and buried Ruth in the back garden the following evening - the first of many victims to be hidden at 10 Rillington Place. The murder sparked a grisly spree across London that left local women terrified of going out alone. Nine years earlier, Christie and his wife Ethel - who would go onto be one of his later murder victims - had moved into the modest home - one of four families crammed into the squalid terraced block. The year after he left the reserve police, Christie took up employment as a clerk at an Acton radio factory, where he met colleague Muriel Amelia Eady - his second victim. On October 7 1944, Christie invited Eady back to his flat, promising he'd concocted a mixture that could cure her bronchitis. He in fact tricked her into inhaling domestic gas - which at the time had a 15% carbon monoxide content - through a tube. While Eady was unconscious he raped and strangled her before burying her next to Fuerst. 16 Police digging up the garden at 10 Rillington Place Credit: Getty Images 16 Crowds gathering outside 10 Rillington Place during the trial Credit: Getty Images 16 Christie stalked the streets of London during World War Two in police uniform Credit: Getty Christie's next two victims have caused some contention for decades. In October 1948, Timothy Evans and his wife Beryl moved into the top floor flat of 10 Rillington Place. Beryl soon gave birth to a baby girl named Geraldine but the joy was short-lived when Evans called police and cryptically informed them that his wife was dead 11 months later. After multiple searches, cops eventually found Beryl, as well as her baby daughter Geraldine and a 16-week male fetus all dead in an outdoor wash-house at the property. A post mortem found both mum and daughter had been strangled, with Beryl also raped and beaten before she was killed. Evans was arrested and initially claimed neighbour Christie had killed his wife during a botched abortion operation. Following questioning, a full confession signed by Evans emerged but it was marred by speculation that the cops had fabricated his admission. Evans withdrew it and again accused Christie, this time of both murders, but was charged. On January 11 1950, Evans was put on trial for the murder of his baby daughter Geraldine, the prosecution opting not to pursue a second charge of murder for Beryl. He was found guilty and then hanged on March 9 at HMP Pentonville. 16 Timothy Evans was convicted and later hanged for the murder of his wife Credit: Getty - Contributor 16 Beryl Evans and her baby Geraldine were murdered by Christie Credit: Getty Images 16 Ruth Fuerst, thought to have been the first victim of Christie Credit: Hulton Archive - Getty In the years since, Christie has been ruled responsible for both murders - and the blunder meant he was free to kill four more women - his wife Ethel on December 14 1952, then Kathleen Maloney, Rita Nelson and Hectorina MacLennan between January 19 and March 6, 1953. Each of these last three victims were killed with his gas and strangulation technique. He also repeatedly raped them while they were initially unconscious. The bodies were stowed in a small alcove behind the back kitchen wall - which was then covered with wallpaper. Ethel, strangled in bed, was hidden under the floorboards. Christie had been out of work since early December 1952 and following Ethel's death he began selling off furniture, then her wedding ring and clothes, and even forged her signature in order to clear her bank account. On March 20 1953 Christie illegally sublet the flat and hastily moved out - possibly fearing capture was imminent. Four days later the three bodies in the alcove were discovered and a manhunt was launched. He had been staying at Rowton House in Kings Cross until news of the grim discovery was made and then quickly packed up and left, wandering around London until he was arrested on March 31 1953 near Putney Bridge. Christie eventually admitted to all of the murders, except for that of baby Geraldine. He was tried only for the murder of Ethel in June 1953 - and with his plea of insanity failing, was convicted and hanged on July 15, aged 54. Unearthed documents During research for her book, Kate came across a memorandum written by a prison guard who spoke to Christie following his trial and prior to his execution. "I wasn't necessarily going into this to solve the mystery of the Evans case - but it was quite a shock," she told The Sun. He allegedly confessed to both Evans murders for the first time - while further letters allegedly reveal the Home Office opted against releasing the information to the public. Drudging up the case again and admitting to a potential miscarriage of justice would not have been a good look with capital punishment a particularly loaded topic at the time. Referring to the Evans murders, Kate told The Sun: "It was not a very high profile case, it was just seen as a domestic, fish and chip type of crime. "There was not a huge amount of police resources or press interest. It was quite a cursory investigation." Kate said confusingly Evans "told several stories about what happened". 16 Rita Nelson was murdered on January 19 1953 Credit: Getty - Contributor 16 Katheen Maloney was killed by Christie in February 1953 Credit: Getty - Contributor 16 Christie's second known victim Muriel Amelia Eady Credit: Alamy "In one of them he confessed in detail to how he'd killed them and why. That was enough." He had originally accused Christie of being responsible on being arrested - but after police questioning signed a confession which he later retracted and again pointed the finger at his neighbour. "He was a semi-illiterate van driver in his mid-20s and Christie was a middle-aged, apparently respectable man," said Kate. "He'd been injured in the First World War and a police officer in the Second World War. The authorities dismissed Evans' accusations against Christie." She said there was a "certain amount of class prejudice", adding: "Respectable middle aged men or hard-drinking van driver". During her research, Kate was surprised to find the forgotten documents in the archives that may well prove Evans' innocence once and for all. She unearthed the memo written by a prison guard claiming Christie had confessed to him in the cells. Kate said: "He had nothing to lose, he was going to be hanged - Christie made a confession to the murder of Beryl and Geraldine Evans, the only time he did so, and explained how it came about." She went on to say: "I then found letters between a government minister and the head of the Civil Service which shows the prison guard's memo was kept from the public and press in 1953 and remained in sealed files for decades." Kate said the prison guard had toyed with selling the story to the press but in the end reported it to his governor who gave it to the Home Office but the government department "hid it". She said: "It would have been a big scandal, a miscarriage of justice. Capital punishment was already a very hot topic." In 2004, the High Court had acknowledged that Evans did not murder his wife or daughter. But while the court recognised the case as a miscarriage of justice, it did not formally overturn the conviction due to the cost and resources required. Monster cop John Christie lived in a world of female independence similar to today By Ryan Merrifield SERIAL killer John Christie began his decade-long murder spree in 1943 while working as a War Reserve Police officer following the Blitz. The monster used his role patrolling the streets of London to hunt out his victims and hid behind his uniform to lure women into a false sense of security. Author Kate Summerscale told The Sun: "His first murder, that we know of, was just a case of opportunity. 'He was patrolling the streets of London during black outs, during bombing raids - he had the authority of the uniform." Kate continued: 'The freedom and the power of being in that role enabled him to start luring women and killing them, and feeling he could get away with it. 'There was such chaos during the blitz, during the war people went missing, bodies were found, it was an environment in which people who wanted to do things might feel the power to do them.' I said the image of a man in police uniform targeting young lone women reminded me of another more recent murder. Kate agreed. 'When I started researching the case, when I realised he secured his first victim in uniform, it did remind me powerfully of Wayne Couzens,' she said. Then-serving Met officer Couzens abducted, raped and murdered Sarah Everard, 33, in Clapham in March 2022 - having roamed the streets for a random victim, and using his police ID to gain her trust. Kate also thought of the murder of two sisters, Bibaa Henry, 46, and Nicole Smallman, 27, by Danyal Hussein not far from her home in Fryent Country Park, when she began toying with the idea of a new book. 'I started thinking about why men kill women that are strangers to them, without any personal animus and I remembered Christie.' She'd seen his waxwork in Madame Tussauds as a child, and then recalled watching the 'very creepy' 1971 film on late night TV as a teenager. 'That was my starting point,' she continued. 'To learn more about him as a serial killer, and to learn more about the women that he killed, and the world in which he lived, and how that might have contributed to the crimes.' She added: 'I'm quite interested in the incel culture rise, in a type of vengefulness in a certain type of men who feel threatened by the increasing independence of women." She explained that the immediate years after the Second World War's end, when Christie committed the majority of his at least eight murders, saw a 'similarly feverish attitude, a tension about gender roles' as perhaps today. This had come about because women had entered the workforce while the men were away fighting and when they returned home their wives, girlfriends and mothers 'returned to domestic duties' which led to a 'restlessness', she said. 'There was huge pressure on family life,' Kate continued. 'Families were broken up, separations, death, people moving around, a massive increase in divorce rate came after the war. 'It was a period of turbulence, particularly in power relations between the sexes and perhaps we've been in a similar period of turbulence recently.' 16 Ethel Christie was murdered by her husband in December 1952 Credit: Getty - Contributor 16 John Hurt as Timothy Evans, Judy Geeson as Beryl Evans, and Richard Attenborough as John Christie in 1971 film 10 Rillington Place Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 16 Christie in his reserve police uniform Credit: Reddit
