Police investigation into UK retail hacks focuses on English-speaking youths

Police investigation into UK retail hacks focuses on English-speaking youths

The National Crime Agency tells the BBC how it is trying to find the culprits of the M&S and Co-op hacks.

Truth Analysis

Factual Accuracy
4/5
Bias Level
4/5
Analysis Summary:

The article appears mostly accurate based on the available verification sources. The primary claim about the focus on English-speaking youths is supported by one source. There's a slight potential for bias due to the limited scope of the provided sources and the BBC's own reporting.

Detailed Analysis:
  • Claim:** Police investigation into UK retail hacks focuses on English-speaking youths.
    • Verification Source #3: Supports this claim, stating "The hackers, who were fluent English speakers, revealed to the..." in reference to Co-op and M&S hacks.
    • Verification Source #1: Mentions Russian-language criminals being responsible for most high-profile cybercrime attacks against the UK, which might seem contradictory at first glance. However, it doesn't negate the possibility of English-speaking youths being involved in *other* retail hacks.
    • Verification Source #2, #4, #5: Fail to cover this specific claim.
Supporting Evidence/Contradictions:
  • Verification Source #3: "Beware phony IT calls after Co-op and M&S hacks, says UK cyber ... ... British retailers are impersonating IT help desks to break into organisations. ... The hackers, who were fluent English speakers, revealed to the…" This directly supports the claim that English-speaking individuals are involved in the hacks.
  • Verification Source #1: "Russian-language criminals operating ransomware as a service continue to be responsible for most high profile cybercrime attacks against the UK." This suggests that while Russian-speaking criminals are involved in cybercrime, it doesn't exclude the possibility of other groups, including English-speaking youths, being involved in different types of attacks, such as the retail hacks mentioned in the BBC article.