Detectives belonging to the UK’s leading cyber crime unit have identified and shut down 2,000 websites that were probably set up to dupe visitors to next year’s London Olympics, according to the Guardian.
Some of these sites were posing as online retailers for luxury goods.
Many used the event’s image of five Olympic rings, which could have misled people into believing that they were officially endorsed, the newspaper said.
Metropolitan police deputy assistant commissioner Janet Williams said they think there is some evidence to suggest they are waiting to commit fraud. "These websites have been set up and are in a holding position, and we will monitor them to see if they are used for criminal purposes," said Williams.
She said there was evidence that "old school" crime organisations were shifting into cyber space.
Meanwhile, according to BBC, only resellers who have been approved to sell the tickets are listed on the official London 2012 website. A website checker has also been put up to help buyers to cross check if a website was legitimate.
