Group-IB, a global cybersecurity leader headquartered in Singapore, can reveal in coordination with the UAE Cybersecurity Council that the scam-as-a-service operation Classiscam is continuing its worldwide campaign well into 2023. In a new blog, Group-IB analysts detail how the automated scheme uses Telegram bots to assist with the creation of ready-to-use phishing pages impersonating companies in a range of industries, including online marketplaces, classified sites, and logistics operators. These phishing pages are designed to steal money, payment data, and recently in some cases, bank login credentials from unsuspecting internet users.
According to Group-IB’s findings, 251 unique brands in a total of 79 countries were featured on Classiscam phishing pages from H1 2021 to H1 2023. In addition, the phishing templates created for each brand can be localized to different countries by editing the language and currency featured on the scam pages. As a result, one particular logistics brand was impersonated by “Classiscammers” targeting users in as many as 31 countries.
Since the second half of 2019, when the Group-IB Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-GIB) in cooperation with the company’s Digital Risk Protection unit first identified Classiscam’s operations, 1,366 separate groups leveraging this scheme have been discovered on Telegram. Group-IB experts examined Telegram channels containing information pertaining to 393 Classiscam groups with more than 38,000 members that operated between H1 2020 and H1 2023.
During this period, these groups made combined estimated earnings of $64.5 million. Group-IB has noted how the threat actors behind Classiscam have worked, since inception, to formalize and expand the scam model’s operations. From 2022 onwards, Classiscammers have introduced new innovations, such as phishing schemes designed to harvest the credentials of victim’s online bank accounts, and some groups have begun to use information stealers.
Gone global
Classiscam originally appeared in Russia, where the scheme was tried and tested before being launched across the globe. The scam-as-a-service affiliate program surged in popularity in spring 2020 with the emergence of COVID-19 and the subsequent uptick in remote working and online shopping.
Group-IB experts noticed how the scam scheme was exported first to Europe, before entering other global regions, such as the United States, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). As of H1 2021, Classiscammers had targeted internet users in 30 countries. Group-IB experts can reveal that, as of H1 2023, this figure has risen to 79. In the same time period, the number of targeted brands on the global market has increased from 38 to 251.
More than 61% of the Classiscam resources analyzed by Group-IB experts that were created between H1 2021 and H1 2023 targeted users in Europe. Other heavily targeted regions were the Middle East and Africa (18.7% of resources) and the Asia-Pacific region (12.2%).
With the MEA region being the second most targeted by Classiscam, countries in the region encountered challenges with targeted brand activities. The UAE was no exception to this, with its emphasis on technological innovation and many large and prominent brands operating in the country.
“In response to the rising amount of cyberattacks in recent years, the UAE has introduced a multifaceted approach to cybersecurity erected by five pillars. By fortifying global collaboration, encouraging Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), reinforcing cybersecurity measures, nurturing innovation, and promoting a cyber-literate society, the UAE is actively remediating the impact of cyber incidents. As the nation propels forward with digital transformation, the emphasis on responsible digitization remains paramount, ensuring a secure and thriving digital landscape” said H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government.
The average amount lost by Classiscam victims worldwide was $353, while users in APAC and MEA were less likely to fall victim to Classiscam schemes, but when they did, they saw greater losses on average.
Group-IB provided answers for Economy Middle East when probed on this:
How many victims of the classiscam were impacted in the Middle East, and the total amounts scammed between H1 2021 and H1 2023 there?
It’s important to stress that Group-IB analyzed the workings of 393 out of the more than 1,300 Classiscam groups registered on Telegram. Of this proportion, In terms of fraudulent Classiscam transactions registered on Telegram, Group-IB found that just 2.5% of these transactions were from users from the Middle East, compared to 93.7% in Europe. This discrepancy between the number of fraudulent resources targeting MEA users and the smaller number of completed Classiscam transactions could be a testament to the high levels of digital literacy in the region.
Was Arabic a language used to trick these victims? Can automated bots do that?
Yes, threat actors who leverage Classiscam schemes are able to create phishing pages in the Arabic language. Across the whole world, Group-IB researchers found localized pages targeting users in 79 countries. The bots that generate phishing pages clone official sites. If the legitimate page is in Arabic, then the phishing page can also be in Arabic. We have seen scammers use online translation services to communicate with victims, and they also prepare documents containing formulaic text that can be copied and pasted into messaging services.
Read: Cybercriminals using ChatGPT to launch spear-phishing attacks
More background
Classiscam was initially launched as a relatively straightforward scam operation. Cybercriminals created fake ads on classified sites, and leveraged social engineering techniques to trick users into “buying” the falsely-advertised goods or services, whether by transferring money directly to the scammers or by debiting money from the victim’s bank card.
Classiscam operations have become increasingly automated over the past two years. The scheme now utilizes Telegram bots and chats to coordinate operations and create phishing and scam pages in a handful of seconds. Many of the groups offer easy-to-follow instructions, and experts are on hand to help with other users’ questions.
Over the past year, Group-IB researchers have seen roles within scam groups become more specialized within an expanded hierarchy. Classiscam phishing pages can now include a balance check, which the scammers use to assess how much they can charge to a victim’s card, and fake bank login pages that they use to harvest users’ credentials.
At the time of writing, Group-IB experts found 35 such scam groups that distributed links to phishing pages that include fake login forms for banking services. In total, Classiscam scammers created resources emulating the login pages of 63 banks in 14 countries. Among the targeted banks were those based in Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Poland, Singapore, and Spain.
“Classiscam shows no sign of slowing down and the ranks of the Classiscammers are continuing to swell. Over the past year, we have seen scam groups adopt a new, expanded hierarchy, and roles within organizations are becoming increasingly specialized. Classiscam will likely remain one of the major global scam operations throughout 2023 due to the scheme’s full automation and low technical barrier of entry,” Sharef Hlal, Head of Group-IB’s Digital Risk Protection Analytics Team (MEA), at Group-IB, said.
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