Identity theft

A new Development Ministry bill provides for the compensation of bank customers should they become victims of electronic fraud, such as the theft and use of their debit card PIN, even if this is due to their own negligence.

Serbian citizens are receiving scam emails again these days. After the Post Office, the National Bank of Serbia, and others, SBB internet and cable provider is now the phishing target.

Phishing is the most prevalent

There is a new surge in phishing attacks with fake e-mails about outstanding liabilities to the National Revenue Agency (NRA). Fake messages are sent on behalf of private enforcement agents, the NRA has warned. In recent days, thousands of Bulgarians have received intimidating letters on their e-mails.

The Plovdiv District Prosecution Office has broken a criminal operation for money laundering related to computer fraud (phishing) outside Bulgaria. This emerged at a news conference in Plovdiv on Monday given by District Prosecutor Roumen Popov, anti-organized crime unit chief Dimiter Alexandrov and supervising prosecutor Peter Petrov.

Bulgarian women have been cheated out of thousands of levs through online scams. General Directorate Combatting Organized Crime (GDBOP) reported a case when a record BGN 400,000 was transferred abroad. Women become victims of love affairs, and scammers turn out to be mainly cybercriminals from North Africa.

A branch known as the "white hat hackers," set up within the Communication Technologies Authority (BTK), has been tracing abusive social media accounts following reports that there were videos on YouTube with child abuse content.

Cyber police forces also have taken action to identify social media accounts sharing content that could tantamount to abuse.

This is when attackers secretly alter communications between two sides and steal key information, such as passwords, messages or credit card numbers.

The cybercrime unit of the Hellenic Police (ELAS) has warned the public about a spike in online fraud and fake news regarding the Covid-19 epidemic.

In 2019, approximately 1 in 3 EU citizens aged 16 to 74 reported security-related incidents when using the internet for private purposes in 2019 in the last 12 months.