From VPNs to Starlink: The Comedic Evolution of Mule Networks in 2025’s Fraud Circus
Mule operators in the META region have graduated from VPNs to a full-on Mission Impossible heist. Group-IB reports they’ve swapped basic tricks for Starlink, GPS spoofing, and even preconfigured smartphones. The evolution of fraud has become a thrilling saga of digital deception with a sprinkle of physical logistics. Fraud leaves patterns, and so do mules.
Hot Take:
In a twist that would make even James Bond do a double take, fraudsters across the META region have leveled up from their basic VPN shenanigans to full-blown criminal masterminds. They’ve gone from hiding behind a digital bush to orchestrating a heist of Ocean’s Eleven proportions — minus George Clooney’s charisma.
Key Points:
- Fraudsters in META have evolved from simple VPN tricks to sophisticated fraud networks.
- They now use roaming SIMs, Starlink, and GPS spoofing to dodge regional banking systems.
- By 2024, mule networks began using legitimate accounts and formal documents to disguise activities.
- In 2025, physical device muling emerged, involving preconfigured smartphones.
- Behavioral biometrics remain a key tool in detecting these slick fraud operations.
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