But because group chats and the channel features are not end-to-end encrypted, Galperin said user privacy is potentially under threat. Additionally, investors are often instructed to deposit monies into personal bank accounts of individuals who claim to represent a legitimate entity, and/or into an unrelated corporate account. To lend credence and to lure unsuspecting victims, perpetrators usually claim that their entity and/or the investment schemes are approved by financial authorities. Although some channels have been removed, the curation process is considered opaque and insufficient by analysts. Such instructions could actually endanger people — citizens receive air strike warnings via smartphone alerts. The account, "War on Fakes," was created on February 24, the same day Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" and troops began invading Ukraine. The page is rife with disinformation, according to The Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab, which studies digital extremism and published a report examining the channel.
from id
