An international cybercrime network responsible for stealing millions of euros has been dismantled in a joint operation conducted in Belgium and the Netherlands. The Europol-coordinated effort led to eight arrests and 17 coordinated raids across the two countries on December 3.
Investigation and Arrests
The investigation, which began in 2022, targeted a gang involved in phishing, online fraud, and money laundering. Four suspects—three men and one woman, aged between 23 and 66—were arrested in the Netherlands. They face charges of participating in a criminal organization.
Authorities seized various pieces of evidence during the raids, including mobile phones, data storage devices, significant amounts of cash, and luxury items purchased with stolen funds. These findings underscored the extensive fraudulent activities conducted by the group.
Airbnbs: Temporary Bases for Cybercrime
The gang used rented Airbnb properties and luxury apartments as temporary call centers to avoid detection. Operating from these locations, they launched phishing attacks targeting victims across Europe. Communication methods included emails, text messages, and WhatsApp messages, in which they impersonated bank representatives or fraud prevention agents.
Victims were informed that their bank accounts had been compromised and were directed to fake banking websites designed to appear legitimate. Once victims entered sensitive information such as login credentials or PINs, the
[…]
Content was cut in order to protect the source.Please visit the source for the rest of the article.