Germany arrests 18 in international crackdown on online fraud
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A global scam siphoned funds via subscriptions to fake websites designed for streaming, dating and entertainment.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WIESBADEN, Germany – An internationally coordinated action against alleged online fraud and money laundering networks that included German payment service providers resulted in 18 arrests, the German authorities said on Nov 5.
Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office and prosecutors said between 2016 and 2021, alleged criminals used credit card details for 4.3 million individuals from 193 countries in their scheme, racking up damages of more than €300 million (S$450 million).
The suspects siphoned funds via subscriptions to fake websites designed for streaming, dating and entertainment.
The defendants compromised four major German payment service providers in order to process payments, they said. The firms were not named.
Late on Nov 4, the authorities disclosed they searched buildings in Germany, Italy, Canada, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, the United States and Cyprus.
Prosecutors said they are focused on 44 suspects in Germany and other countries. Among them are members of the fraud network, employees of payment firms, and crime-as-a-service providers. REUTERS
