The destruction of a highly skilled criminal network that enabled widespread internet fraud has been aided by Europol. Over 50 servers were taken, important digital evidence was secured, and two important suspects were placed in pretrial detention as part of an operation coordinated by the Verden Public Prosecutor’s Office (Staatsanwaltschaft Verden) and the Hanover Police Department (Polizeidirektion Hannover) in Germany, with assistance from law enforcement agencies throughout Europe.
Following allegations of fraudulent phone calls in which con artists pretended to be bank workers in order to get victims’ private information, including addresses and security responses, the inquiry got underway in the fall of 2022. A specialized online marketplace that served as a major nexus for the trafficking of unlawfully obtained information was linked to the stolen data.
A central hub for cyber fraud
Thousands of individuals were able to purchase stolen data from the marketplace, which was arranged by account balance and area. Because of this customization, thieves were able to commit targeted fraud more effectively.
Additionally, investigators discovered a network of fraudulent web stores that deceive customers into providing payment details—a tactic known as phishing. The marketplace’s proprietors made substantial gains when the stolen credentials were sold.
Cross-border crackdown on cyber fraud infrastructure
Coordinated operations were conducted out throughout Europe on December 4. While infrastructure connected to the marketplace and phony stores was demolished in Germany, Finland, the Netherlands, and Norway, searches were carried out in Germany and Austria.
More than 200 gigabytes of digital evidence were secured when law enforcement confiscated more than 50 servers.
Under European arrest orders, the two primary suspects, a 27-year-old and a 37-year-old, were taken into custody in Germany and Austria, respectively, and are presently being held pending trial.
Europol’s unique support to Member States’ investigations
For more than two years, Europol has been actively involved in this investigation, offering law enforcement organizations throughout Europe and beyond a crucial platform for collaboration and intelligence exchange.
Its European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) made use of all of its resources and knowledge to cover every facet of this intricate operation. The investigation was advanced in large part by Europol’s distinctive forensic skills, which provided specialized solutions for analyzing and safeguarding the intricate digital evidence.
A specialized taskforce of data scientists was also established by Europol to handle and analyze enormous volumes of data in order to find important correlations. Three EC3 specialists were sent to Germany and Austria on the action day to support the national authorities’ enforcement efforts.
The following authorities took part in the operation:
- Austria: State Office of Criminal Investigation (Landeskriminalamt)
- Czechia: Bureau of Criminal Police and Investigation Service, Regional Police Directorate of the Capital City of Prague
- Finland: National Bureau of Investigation (Keskusrikospoliisi)
- Germany: Hanover Police Department (Polizeidirektion Hannover), Verden Public Prosecutor’s Office (Staatsanwaltschaft Verden)
- The Netherlands: National Police (Politie)
- Poland: Central Cybercrime Bureau (Centralne Biuro Zwalczania Cyberprzestępczości)
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