What is diversion theft?
Diversion theft started as an “offline” attack where the mal-actor tricks a courier into picking up or dropping off a package from the wrong location and hence either facilitating the delivery of their false package or accessing the real package. It’s also known as the “Corner game” or “Round the corner game” and has its origins in the East End of London, way before the Internet was even thought of.
A lorry driver would be met and told that the goods he is carrying are needed around the corner from the real drop off point. The goods are then easily accessible by the crooks and can be stolen or substituted.
A mal-actor can now use technology to divert the delivery, by intercepting and altering the delivery schedule. Diversion theft is also being used online to trick the victim into sending information to the wrong location. Often this is done by using spear phishing, whaling, vishing or pretexting attacks.
Do you want to learn more?
Network Midlands runs seminars to help you detect and defeat social engineering attacks. Find out more at “The Art of Deception“.
