Impressive net weight. About 4,000 people were arrested and 257 million dollars were seized in the large-scale operation of the international police against online fraudannounced on Thursday Interpol.
This operation, carried out in 61 countries, also allowed the freezing of 6,745 bank accounts and the identification of 14,643 other suspects. statement of the international police cooperation organization headquartered in Lyon.
In the operation called “First Light” which lasted several months, especially investment fraud, fake shopping sites, phishing (a technique used to obtain personal information from a victim), identity theft or even sensory fraudsays the press release.
“A healthier global economy”
The various police forces involved seized approximately $135 million worth of fiat currency and two million dollars in cryptocurrency. Real estate, jewelry and even luxury cars worth more than 120 million dollars were confiscated.
Isaac Kehinde Oginni, dirctor of IFCACC, Interpol’s center specializing in the fight against financial crimes and corruption, was quoted in a press release as saying that the international police operation represents “life protected, crime prevented and a healthier global economy”.
In Australia, for example, authorities recovered A$5.5 million for an identity theft victim after the funds were transferred to bank accounts in Malaysia and Hong Kong. Law enforcement agencies in Namibia rescued 88 young people who were forced to commit fraud and seized 163 computers and 350 mobile phones.