Hundreds of fake government websites target users in Central Asia

Cybercriminals have created hundreds of fake government and news websites to target people in Uzbekistan, Belarus and Tajikistan with bogus offers promising cash payments or passive income. The sites are designed to collect victims’ contact details, which scammers then use to target them through phone or email to steal money, personal information or gain access to their devices. The websites exploit people’s trust in government social programs, telling visitors they are eligible for financial assistance or can earn passive income through government-backed programs, according to the report released Monday. Others are more sophisticated, mimicking regional news websites and publishing fake stories about government assistance programs before directing readers to questionnaires.