Devine Technical Services

2019: The owner of the company got to prison for spread of viruses under the guise of technical support of Microsoft

At the end of February, 2019 Baljinder Singh, the owner of Devine Technical Services company through which swindlers under the guise of technical support of Microsoft suggested users to eliminate viruses from computers was committed to prison, but actually set the malware for theft of money.

According to data of prosecutor's office, the Indian criminal grouping used Devine Technical Services company for fraudulent operations in Britain during which about 400,000 pounds ($530,000) were stolen from users in total. Swindlers found the victims in network, were represented by technical support of Microsoft and convinced to provide remote access to their PC, saying that the computer needs under repair. They required a payment for "services", and in exchange installed the malicious software which opened for the access to accounts of the victims on the PC.

Balyindzher Singh is the owner of Devine Technical Services company through which swindlers under the guise of technical support Microsoft suggested users to eliminate viruses from computers, but actually set the malware for theft of money

According to testimonies of one of the victims, fraudulent transaction was performed as follows: the screen of the computer died away, and from columns warning of cracking of an account reached. Advised the victim to call number 0800, and then reported that the computer underwent cyber attack and suggested to correct an error for 70 pounds ($95). Later the victim found out that the account was really hacked, but the payment in the amount of 2700 pounds ($3600) was drawn from account. Next day criminals contacted the victim, suggesting to return spare cash and if the bank did not manage to warn the victim about possible fraud, set the malware which drew from account still a large sum.

The British police exposed swindlers thanks to Damian Morrison from Northern Ireland who nearly suffered from actions of criminals. However unlike the normal victims of fraud, Morrison had experience in the field of telecommunications and learned about criminals from the injured relative. When the pop-up message on the screen warned him about cracking of an account, he allowed criminals to get remote access to its computer and agreed to pay 599 pounds ($800) for the lifelong packet of protective software offered by swindlers however gave incorrect details for payment.

Then Morrison contacted the telephone company and found out a company name, standing behind a fraudulent action. Devine Technical Services was it. It collected necessary proofs of their fault and placed in November, 2016 on YouTube warning of fraud. The judge in the Newcastle Royal Court awarded to Morrison encouragement in the amount of 250 pounds sterling ($330) for the active help to police.

Balyindzher Singh's role as owner of Devine Technical Services, was in managing bank accounts in Britain and to send money to India. He did not talk to the victims of fraud. Singh living in the English city of South Shields was recognized in assistance to criminals and was committed to prison for two years and four months. At arrest he explained police that the Indian firm asked it to create base in the British market to gain customer confidence. In general Singh transported to swindlers over 300,000 pounds ($400,000) to India and received 38,665 pounds (about $51,500) for the help.

Swindlers, being represented by technical support of Microsoft, set viruses

According to the prosecutor James Gelsthorpe, many of the victims were elderly people who had no necessary knowledge in the field of IT and were most vulnerable. Abrahim Bakhtiar from division of Microsoft on digital crimes assured that the technical support of Microsoft answers only requests of users. The call from technical support or the message on behalf of the representative of Microsoft without the previous request speak about possible fraud.^[1]

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