Three news to start your week: April 22
Police bust global cyber gang accused of industrial-scale fraud
(BBC)
The police have successfully dismantled a notorious gang that used a technology service to commit crimes involving fraudulent text messages. This has led to the arrest of 37 people worldwide, and the authorities are now reaching out to the victims affected by these schemes.
The police have found that young people who have grown up with digital technology were the main targets of this phishing scam. This criminal technology allowed unscrupulous individuals to send misleading messages to unsuspecting victims, tricking them into making online payments.
To bring the gang to justice, the police specifically targeted the gang's website, LabHost, which was used to distribute these deceptive messages. This platform also directed victims to fake websites, which looked like legitimate online payment or shopping services.
EU set to fine Oreo maker Mondelez for blocking cross-border sales
(Financial Times)
Mondelez, the US confectionery company that owns brands like Oreo, Cadbury, and Toblerone, may face a large fine in the European Union (EU) for allegedly trying to limit sales between EU countries.
Brussels regulators are planning to take action against Mondelez for impeding cross-border trading, which is believed to harm consumers, especially during a period of high inflation. The announcement and the amount of the fine may change.
The EU started investigating Mondelez in 2021 over concerns about cross-border trade. The investigation aims to determine if the company was trying to hinder cheaper imports through "parallel" trade.
US fines Thailand-based firm $20 mn for Iran sanctions violations
(France24)
The United States has imposed a $20 million fine on a firm based in Thailand for more than 450 potential sanctions violations against Iran. This comes just a day after the US implemented fresh sanctions on Iran in response to the recent attack on Israel.
This move represents the US' ongoing efforts to financially pressure Iran, even as it seeks to deescalate military tensions between Iran and Israel after a series of retaliatory attacks.
According to a statement from the Treasury Department, SCG Plastics, headquartered in Bangkok, has agreed to pay the fine to resolve 467 apparent violations of sanctions.
These violations resulted in US financial institutions processing $291 million in wire transfers between 2017 and 2018 for a company jointly owned by Iran's National Petrochemical Company.
