Police detain 5 for cyber crime and fraud in Tbilisi, Gori, Tsalenjikha municipality
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Police have detained five individuals for unauthorized access to computer systems and fraud in Tbilisi, Gori and the western municipality of Tsalenjikha.
The detainees hacked the Facebook pages of seven Georgian citizens employed abroad, contacted 14 Facebook friends of the seven Georgian citizens on their behalf and fraudulently made them transfer various amounts of cash to their online casino and money transfer accounts.
In such a fashion the detainees received 10,500 GEL (about $3,400) belonging to these 14 individuals.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs reports that an investigation is underway to identify other victims and members of the criminal group.
If convicted, the detainees face seven to 10 years of imprisonment.
The Georgian parliament is hearing a bill by the Ministry of Internal Affairs designed to include stricter criminal punishment for cyber crimes including hacking for financial gain and creation of fake data.
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Georgian police have detained an Indian citizen for illegally accessing computer systems, extraction and misuse of computer data and theft. The crime is punishable by three to five years in prison.
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A young man attempted to hold up a VTB Bank branch by entering the building through a ventilation duct on Chavchavadze Avenue in Tbilisi yesterday. TV channel Rustavi 2 reported that the individual threatened bank employees with kerosene after which they left the building until police arrived, however Head of Communications of VTB Bank Shota Machavariani told Interpressnews (IPN) earlier today that the unknown man who entered the bank branch yesterday did not ask for money and did not threaten the staff.
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