A worldwide legislation enforcement operation has led to the arrest of greater than 5,500 suspects concerned in monetary crimes and the seizure of greater than $400 million in digital belongings and government-backed currencies.
The coordinated train noticed the participation of authorities from 40 international locations, territories, and areas as a part of the most recent wave of Operation HAECHI-V, which came about between July and November 2024, INTERPOL mentioned.
“The effects of cyber-enabled crime can be devastating – people losing their life savings, businesses crippled, and trust in digital and financial systems undermined,” INTERPOL Secretary Basic Valdecy Urquiza mentioned in a press release.
“The borderless nature of cybercrime means international police cooperation is essential, and the success of this operation supported by INTERPOL shows what results can be achieved when countries work together. It’s only through united efforts that we can make the real and digital worlds safer.”
As a part of HAECHI-V, INTERPOL mentioned Korean and Beijing authorities collectively dismantled a widespread voice phishing syndicate answerable for monetary losses totaling $1.1 billion and affecting over 1,900 victims.
The fraudulent operation entailed the e-crime gang masquerading as legislation enforcement officers and utilizing counterfeit identification. No less than 27 members of the organized legal group behind the scheme have been arrested, with 19 people subsequently indicted.
INTERPOL has additionally issued a purple discover, warning of an rising cryptocurrency fraud apply known as the USDT Token Approval Rip-off that permits unhealthy actors to empty victims’ wallets by leveraging romance-themed baits to trick them into shopping for well-liked Tether stablecoins (USDT tokens) and investing them.
“Once the scammers have gained their trust, the victims are provided with a phishing link claiming to allow them to set up their investment account,” the company mentioned. “In reality, by clicking they authorize full access to the scammers, who can then transfer funds out of their wallet without the victim’s knowledge.”
Information of HAECHI-V comes almost a 12 months after INTERPOL mentioned it arrested almost 3,500 people and made seizures value $300 million throughout 34 international locations following a six-month operation.
It additionally follows the arrest of 1,006 suspects throughout 19 African international locations and the takedown of 134,089 malicious infrastructures and networks to deal with cybercrime within the continent.
