Egypt.. Details of the arrest of an “international gang formation” accused of seizing the funds of foreigners outside the country

(CNN) - The Egyptian Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of 28 people holding the nationalities of several foreign countries, on suspicion of belonging to an “international gang formation” that specializes in defrauding foreigners residing outside the country and seizing their money deposited in banks abroad.

The Ministry said, in a statement on Thursday, that information and investigations from the General Administration for Combating Information Technology Crimes in the Communications and Information Technology Systems Sector, in coordination with the relevant Ministry agencies, revealed the activity of the gang formation, whose members were communicating with their victims, impersonating bank employees.

She added that the members of the formation were making their victims believe that there was a malfunction in their bank cards, or asking them to update their data, or sending them fake electronic links that would allow them to hack their phones, and then seize their money.

The ministry explained that the members of the formation were transferring the money they seized to their accounts abroad, or purchasing encrypted digital currencies with it to trade.

She indicated that the security services were able to target and arrest the suspects after codifying legal procedures, and sums of money in local and foreign currencies, 48 ​​mobile phones, and 87 laptops were found in their possession.

The Ministry added that by examining the laptops, it was found that they contained “evidence confirming criminal formation activity,” noting that the defendants admitted, when confronted, to practicing “criminal activity as referred to.”

The Ministry of Interior confirmed that legal measures were being taken against the accused.