Home / Crime and Justice / Interpol Nets Nearly 100 in Global Cybercrime Takedown
Interpol Nets Nearly 100 in Global Cybercrime Takedown
16 Mar
Summary
- Operation Synergia III involved 72 countries and concluded in January.
- 94 individuals were arrested, with over 45,000 malicious servers taken down.
- Scams targeted ranged from phishing and loan fraud to social media hacking.
Global law enforcement, spearheaded by Interpol, has concluded Operation Synergia III, a significant crackdown on cybercrime networks. This operation, spanning from mid-July of last year until late January of this year, involved coordinated efforts from police forces in 72 countries.
During this intensive period, 94 individuals were apprehended, with an additional 110 currently under investigation. The operation successfully neutralized over 45,000 malicious IP addresses and servers, significantly disrupting criminal infrastructure. Twenty-one electronic devices were also seized as evidence.
This international initiative targeted a diverse range of illicit online activities. In China, authorities identified over 33,000 phishing and fraudulent websites. Separately, operations in Togo led to 10 arrests for social media hacking and romance scams, while Bangladesh saw 40 arrests related to loan scams and identity theft.
Several private organizations, including Group-IB and Trend Micro, collaborated with law enforcement agencies. This cooperation highlights the evolving, sophisticated nature of cybercrime and the necessity of unified global responses to combat it effectively.
