Pierluigi Paganini December 02, 2024

International law enforcement operation Operation HAECHI-V led to more than 5,500 suspects arrested and seized over $400 million.

A global operation code-named Operation HAECHI V, involving 40 countries, resulted in 5,500+ arrests and seized $400M in assets. Operation HAECHI V (July-Nov 2024) targeted cyber frauds like phishing, romance scams, sextortion, investment fraud, online gambling, BEC, and e-commerce fraud.

Korean and Chinese authorities dismantled a voice phishing syndicate that caused $1.1B in losses to 1,900+ victims. The operation led to 27 arrests and 19 indictments.

INTERPOL also issued a Purple Notice to warn countries about emerging fraudulent activities involving cryptocurrencies. The authorities have warned of “USDT Token Approval Scam” that allows scammers access to the victims’ cryptocurrency wallets and make unauthorized transactions. Attackers first lure victims using romance baiting techniques, then instruct them to buy popular Tether stablecoins (USDT Tokens) via a legitimate platform.

Scammers exploit victims’ trust by sharing phishing links for fake investment setup, secretly gaining wallet access to steal funds without the victims’ knowledge.

“The effects of cyber-enabled crime can be devastating – people losing their life savings, businesses crippled, and trust in digital and financial systems undermined.” said INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza. “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.”

INTERPOL, along with law enforcement from over 80 countries, also enhanced the use of I-GRIP, a tool for intercepting stolen funds.

In a major success, Singapore Police used I-GRIP to halt a transfer of USD 39.3 million. The firm was deceived into transferring USD 42.3 million to a fake account in Timor Leste, where authorities intercepted USD 39.3 million.

The police arrested seven suspects and recovered USD 2.6, meantime investigations in Timor Leste, Indonesia, and Singapore are ongoing to return funds to the victim.

At the end of November, a joint law enforcement operation by INTERPOL and AFRIPOL across 19 African countries, dubbed Operation Serengeti, led to the arrest of 1,006 suspects. The authorities dismantled 134,089 malicious infrastructures and networks.

In early November, INTERPOL announced it took down more than 22,000 malicious servers linked to cybercriminal activities as part of a global operation code-named Operation Synergia II.

Operation Synergia II is a collaborative effort by INTERPOL, private sector partners, and 95 countries, that targeted phishing, ransomware, and infostealers from April to August 2024.

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Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs – hacking, Operation HAECHI-V)