Published on August 7, 2024
Updated on August 7, 2024
A worldwide police operation has seized $257 million, arrested 3,950 people, and disrupted major scam networks.
Image Source: Interpol | Image was edited by Scammer.live
A global police operation in 61 countries has seized $257 million from online scam networks. The operation, named First Light 2024, also froze 6,745 bank accounts and disrupted many international crime groups.
Police targeted phishing, investment fraud, fake online shopping sites, romance scams, and impersonation scams. The operation led to the arrest of 3,950 suspects and identified 14,643 more potential suspects around the world.
Image Source: Interpol | Image was edited by Scammer.live
Authorities intercepted $135 million in cash and $2 million in cryptocurrency. They also seized assets worth over $120 million, including real estate, luxury cars, expensive jewelry, and other high-value items.
Image Source: Interpol | Image was edited by Scammer.live
Using INTERPOL’s tracking system, police traced and intercepted both cash and cryptocurrency. In one case, they recovered $331,000 from a business email scam involving a Spanish victim who sent money to Hong Kong. In another case, Australian authorities recovered $3.7 million from an impersonation scam victim, with the funds transferred to bank accounts in Malaysia and Hong Kong.
Image Source: Interpol | Image was edited by Scammer.live
Dr. Isaac Kehinde Oginni, Director of INTERPOL's Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, said the operation protected lives, prevented crimes, and strengthened the global economy by disrupting organized crime groups.
Image Source: Interpol | Image was edited by Scammer.live
Yong Wang, Head of INTERPOL's National Central Bureau in Beijing, emphasized the global nature of these scams and the need for strong international cooperation to combat them.
Image Source: Interpol | Image was edited by Scammer.live
Key achievements of the operation include dismantling a scam network in Namibia and rescuing 88 local youths forced into conducting scams. Authorities seized 163 computers and 350 mobile phones, with data handed over to INTERPOL for analysis.
In another case, cooperation between police in Singapore and Hong Kong prevented a tech support scam, saving a 70-year-old victim from losing $281,200.
Image Source: Interpol | Image was edited by Scammer.live
Joint efforts by Brazilian and Portuguese authorities also disrupted several global scam networks.
Operation First Light, funded by China’s Ministry of Public Security, brought countries together to share results and plan future actions. The operation started in 2023 and its final phase ran from March to May 2024.
Image Source: Interpol | Image was edited by Scammer.live
INTERPOL has coordinated First Light operations since 2014 to enhance cooperation and combat social engineering and telecom fraud.
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