Global investigators have made significant progress in the fight against cyber-enabled crimes, seizing nearly $130m in money and assets linked to illegal activities. According to Interpol, the Haechi III operation, which ran for five months until November 23, targeted a range of offenses including voice phishing, romance scams, sextortion, investment fraud, and money laundering associated with illegal online gambling.
With support from Interpol’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC), law enforcement agencies in 30 countries worked together to arrest 975 suspects, resolve 1600 cases, and block 2800 bank and crypto accounts. Additionally, they issued 95 Interpol notices and alerts to help combat these criminal activities.
One of the key findings of Operation Haechi III was the discovery of new crime trends, such as the promotion of investment fraud schemes through encrypted messaging services. This highlights the evolving nature of cyber-enabled crimes and the need for coordinated international law enforcement efforts to tackle them effectively.
Hyung Se Lee, head of an Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) in Seoul, emphasized the importance of cross-border collaboration in combating cybercrime. He praised the dedicated coordination of IFCACC and the strong commitment of participating countries, which he believes will lead to more successful law enforcement operations in the future.
Among the notable successes of Operation Haechi III was the arrest of Korean fugitives in Greece and Italy who were wanted for embezzling €28m ($29m) from 2000 victims in their home country. Additionally, NCBs in Austria and India uncovered a network of online criminals impersonating Interpol officers to deceive victims into transferring $159,000. A call center in India was raided, and cryptocurrency wallets and other evidence were seized during the operation.
Previous iterations of Operation Haechi also yielded significant results. In June 2021, Haechi I led to the seizure of $83m in funds intended for cyber-criminals and scammers, along with the arrest of 585 individuals. Similarly, Haechi II, which took place a few months later, resulted in the arrest of over 1000 suspects and the seizure of nearly $27m in criminal funds linked to online fraud and money laundering.
These successful operations demonstrate the effectiveness of international cooperation in combating cyber-enabled crimes and the commitment of law enforcement agencies to protect individuals and businesses from online threats. The fight against cybercrime continues, and Interpol remains at the forefront of efforts to ensure a safer digital environment for all.