BIG OPERATION This major operation led to the arrest of 975 suspects and the resolution of more than 1,600 cases
Illustrative photo of the Interpol headquarters in Lyon, in the Cité Internationale district. — ROMAIN DOUCELIN/SIPA
A large-scale operation which lasted more than five months. This Thursday, Interpol announced the arrest of nearly a thousand suspects and the interception of 130 million dollars (approximately 125 million euros) in assets resulting from fraud committed online. Vocal scams, romance scams, “sextortion” investment, business email compromise, money laundering related to to illegal online gambling: Operation Haechi III took place from June 28 to November 23 in around thirty countries, explains in a press release. Interpol whose headquarters is at Lyon.
🚨 INTERPOL’s Operation HAECHI returns with huge results
💰 130 milllion intercepted
🚔 975 arrests
🏦 2,800 accounts blocked
🌏 30 countriesThis is how we worked across borders and sectors to take down the criminal groups behind online fraud👇https://t.co/QJGDVKucVn
— INTERPOL (@INTERPOL_HQ)
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In total, the operation resulted in the arrest of 975 people and the resolution of more than 1,600 cases. Nearly 2,800 deposit accounts and virtual assets have been blocked in connection with these criminal cases financial. The investigations launched within the framework of Haechi III have generated the publication of 95 Interpol notices and diffusions and identified new emerging trends in online crime, in particular new variations in identity theft, romance or dating scams. investment, or the cases of “sextortion”.
a significant increase in fraud on instant messaging apps that encourage payment via cryptocurrency wallets. In one of the investigations, two Koreans under Interpol red notices and suspected of having hijacked 28 million euros from 2,000 victims thanks to a Ponzi scheme have been arrested in Greece and Italy. Austrian and Indian investigators have, as for them, identified a group of cybercriminals who posed as Interpol agents, and persuaded victims to transfer money through financial institutions, cryptocurrency platforms and dematerialized gift cards.