INTERPOL's Global Cybercrime Operation Nets 5,500 Arrests, $400M Seized
A global law enforcement operation, Operation HAECHI-V, has resulted in over 5,500 arrests linked to financial crimes and the seizure of more than $400 million in virtual assets and currencies. The operation, conducted between July and November 2024, involved authorities from 40 countries, INTERPOL announced.
The crackdown highlighted the devastating effects of cyber-enabled crimes, including the loss of life savings, damage to businesses, and erosion of trust in financial systems, INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza emphasized. He stressed the importance of international cooperation in tackling cybercrime.
As part of the operation, Korean and Beijing authorities dismantled a voice phishing syndicate responsible for $1.1 billion in losses affecting over 1,900 victims. The group, posing as law enforcement with fake IDs, saw 27 members arrested, 19 of whom were indicted.
INTERPOL also issued a warning about a cryptocurrency fraud scheme, the USDT Token Approval Scam, where scammers use romance-themed tactics to gain trust and trick victims into authorizing access to their digital wallets.
This success follows INTERPOL's earlier efforts, including the 2023 arrest of 3,500 suspects and the seizure of $300 million, as well as actions against cybercrime in Africa, where over 1,000 suspects were detained, and malicious networks dismantled.
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