Is Qatar's World Cup drawing cybercriminals?

Kaspersky, the network security company, has had to report fraud cases tied to the World Cup in Qatar.

The network security company Kaspersky has had to report fraud cases tied to the World Cup in Qatar. Crypto wallet data and balances have become targets for criminals.

Phishing sites active

The security firm Kaspersky, based on a study, published a list of various online fraud schemes linked to the 2022 World Cup. The company says criminals are trying to obtain victims' personal data via phishing sites. In addition to fake stadium tickets, attempts were also made to sell fake flights and hotels.

Also crypto and NFTs

The crypto sector isn’t spared either. Criminals are offering bets on football matches and luring people with prizes like crypto coins or valuable NFTs. "All the user has to do is enter their crypto wallet credentials so the prize is instantly transferred. In such scenarios, fraudsters gain access to all savings and the associated wallet details," the report notes.

Pump and Dumb

Another scam, according to Kaspersky, is the development of “real” coins. Users are urged to invest, while scammers promise big growth. "In reality, these are almost never successful, and users end up spending money on something that will never take off." A classic pump-and-dump, in other words.

Kaspersky security expert Olga Svistunova also notes that major sporting events always draw the attention of cybercriminals. She confirms a growing number of NFT scams around this World Cup.