Huge online scam: Nearly 600 arrests froze 1,600 accounts

Wide police operation in Asia against financial internet fraud led to the arrest of 85 people and the freezing of more than 1,600 bank accounts between September and March, Interpol announced today.

“Internet scammers often try to exploit the absence of borders on the Internet by targeting victims or smuggling funds abroad,” said Ilana de Wilde, director of Organized Crime and Organized Crime at the UK. , headquartered in Lyon.

Haechi-I: Interpol coordinated operations in 9 countries

The “Haechi-I” operation, coordinated by Interpol and mobilizing nine Asian countries, also allowed $ 83 million in illegal funds to be seized after 892 cases were resolved in the more than 1,400 investigations that have been opened.

Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Singapore and South Korea are among the countries involved in the large-scale operation, which mobilized more than 40 specialized police officers.

“The results of Operation Haechi-I show that cybercrime is virtually global and only solid international cooperation can effectively combat these criminals,” de Wilde added.

In early February, a South Korean company had transferred nearly $ 7 million following a request that appeared to come from one of its trading partners for payment of invoices. However, the bank details were fraudulently modified to launch bank transfers in Indonesia and Hong Kong.

The company notified the authorities of these countries and the Interpol-based service in South Korea, which specializes in financial crimes, which were able to freeze half the funds. This investigation is ongoing, according to the same source.

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