NEW YORK – Dozens of people in four different continents were arrested by the FBI against the financial online fraud black market. This news was announced by the federal agency last Thursday.
The arrests that took place in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia ended a two-year investigation against online hackers. It is said that the culprits are facing charges for stealing credit card information, banking, and other financial data online.
“The arrests caused a significant disruption to the underground economy and are a clear reminder that masked IP addresses and private forums are not a haven for criminals, they are not beyond the scope of the FBI,” said the director of the FBI office in New York, Janice Fedarcyk.
According to a criminal complaint that was filed last Tuesday in a federal court in Manhattan, the suspects bought and resold programs to steal data and information on websites that were supposedly safe.
In June 2010, undercover investigators created their own online forum where the FBI could encounter criminals, investigate, identify and disrupt their activities.
The complaint was filed against a cyber criminal who used the alias, “OxideDox”. The undercover agents bought the stolen data that the accused was selling. The said purchase consisted of 15 accounts each from credit card companies American Express, MasterCard and Discover.
Officials estimate that the worldwide operation prevented the theft of millions of dollars from individuals and businesses.
