Online fraud: 4,000 arrests and $257 million seized in 61 countries, Interpol announces

Impressive haul. Nearly 4,000 people have been arrested and $257 million seized in a major international police operation against online fraud, Interpol announced Thursday.

This operation, carried out in 61 countries, also allowed the freezing of 6,745 bank accounts and the identification of 14,643 other suspects on all contacts, specifies a press release from the international police cooperation organization, whose headquarters is in Lyon. .

The operation, called “First Light” and which spanned several months, targeted in particular investment fraud, fake shopping sites, phishing (technique used to obtain personal data from the victim ), identity theft or even sentiment scams, according to the press release.

“A healthier global economy”

The various police forces involved seized approximately $135 million in fiat currency and two million dollars in cryptocurrency. Real estate, jewelry and even luxury cars were seized worth more than $120 million.

In Australia, for example, authorities recovered 5.5 million Australian dollars for the benefit of a victim of identity theft, after the funds were transferred to bank accounts in Malaysia and Hong Kong. In Namibia, law enforcement rescued 88 young people forced into fraud and seized 163 computers and 350 cell phones.