Microsoft Seizes Sites in Scam Sweep
Software giant Microsoft has announced that it has seized nearly 340 websites that were being used for phishing operations. The action was carried out under the directive of a U.S. court, according to a Reuters report.
Microsoft stated that the websites were linked to a subscription service called Racoon0365, which enabled users to create fake login pages to launch phishing attacks. The service has already been used to steal information from at least 5,000 Microsoft accounts.
Steven Masada, Assistant General Counsel of Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit, said that Racoon0365 was being operated through a private Telegram channel with over 850 subscribers. The network has been active since July 2024 and has so far generated at least $100,000 in cryptocurrency.
According to Microsoft, the network was being led by Nigerian national Joshua Ogundipe. Their phishing campaigns targeted multiple organizations, including New York-based firms and several entities in the healthcare sector.
Masada warned, “Cybercrime does not require high technology. With simple tools, millions of users are at risk.”
