In cooperation with Europol and Eurojust, European law enforcement dismantled an extensive cybercrime network linked to the Italian mafia and was able to defraud its victims, earning only last year 10 million euros.
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“The Spanish Police (Policía Nacional), supported by the Italian Police (Polizia di Stato), Europol and Eurojust, disrupted an organized criminal group linked to the Italian Mafia and involved in online fraud, money laundering, drug trafficking and property crimes, “said Europol today.
The suspects deceived hundreds of victims through phishing attacks and other types of online fraud, such as SIM swapping and breach of professional email messages, before laundering the money through a wide network of brokerage firms.
Law enforcement agents who worked on this investigation made 106 arrests (mostly in Spain and some in Italy), participated in 16 house raids, and were behind the freezing of 118 bank accounts that were controlled by the criminal group.
The investigation also led to the seizure of numerous electronic devices, 224 credit cards, POS terminals and SIM cards, a marijuana plantation and the equipment required for all of the above.
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The link to the Italian Mafia
“Most of the suspected members are Italian nationals, some of whom have ties to a mafia organization”, Europol revealed.
“The suspects, based in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain), deceived their victims, mainly Italian nationals, to send large sums to bank accounts that were controlled by the criminal network”.
The revenues generated from online scams, including breaches of professional email messages and SIM swapping programs, were laundered using a network of companies and an even larger network of fraudsters.
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“The joint action team for cybercrime (J-CAT) at Europol supported the operation”, added Europol. «This permanent operational team consists of cyber liaison officers from different countries working from the same office on high‑profile investigations into cybercrime.».
Information source: bleepingcomputer.com
