On Tuesday, National Police (DGSN) in Berkane apprehended two individuals–one of whom is a Lebanese national–for their suspected involvement in acts of fraud and phreaking, purportedly by way of tampering with automated data processing systems and though hacking telephone calls, a security source reported.
According to the same source, preliminary investigation data revealed that the accused were involved in hacking national communication networks, in which they employed a criminal modus operandi via electronic devices to divert international phone calls to the local network and generate profits from the tariff differentiation.
Searches conducted by the police officers resulted in the seizure of mobile devices–including four cell phones–as well as dozens of SIM cards and various electronic equipment believed to have been utilized in this criminal operation.
The suspects are now in custody pending further investigation under the supervision of the prosecutor’s office, which is looking at who may also be connected to this cybercrime.
In 2023, cybercrime increased in Morocco by 6% to 5,969 cases, according to official data published by DGSN.