Fake police on the phone, cryptocurrency scam… Interpol’s annual operation to fight online fraud has broken records in 2024 with more than 5,500 arrests and $400 million seized worldwide, the institution announced this Wednesday, the 27th. November.
Called “HAECHI V”, it took place between July and November with the collaboration of 40 countries, the international police cooperation organization based in Lyon said in a statement.
Seven types of “cyber fraud” were targeted, including voice phishing, sentiment scams, “sextortion” (sexual blackmail), and illegal online gambling that results in money laundering.
During this operation, South Korean and Chinese investigators dismantled an extensive telephone “phishing” network, with a “sophisticated” modus operandi: criminals posed as representatives of the police to extract money from their interlocutors. More than 1,900 identified victims lost a total of almost $1.1 billion.
Researchers also discovered a new cryptocurrency scam practice. Victims were first offered to purchase “stablecoins” of Tether, a popular cryptocurrency, through real platforms.
“The savings of a lifetime”
A link received by email allowed them to create their investor profile, but by clicking they also unknowingly authorized the scammers to access their portfolio, from which they could then take whatever they wanted.
“The effects of cybercrime can be devastating: people lose their life savings, businesses are paralyzed, and trust in digital and financial systems is shaken,” said Interpol’s new secretary general, Valdecy Urquiza, in the statement. of press.
“Our efforts have not only brought criminals to justice, but have also made significant progress in the interception and recovery of illicit funds,” said Jun Hyeong Lee, director of Interpol’s South Korea headquarters.
For this 2024 operation, Interpol claims to have almost doubled its number of cases resolved in the fight against online fraud (a little more than 8,000) compared to 2023.
Source: BFM TV
