In a sweeping international operation against cybercrime, Interpol's Operation HAECHI V has led to over 5,500 arrests and the seizure of $400 million in criminal assets between July and November 2024.
The operation, involving law enforcement agencies from 40 countries, targeted various forms of cyber fraud including phishing scams, romance deception, sextortion, investment schemes, illegal gambling, business email compromise, and e-commerce fraud.
A major breakthrough came when Korean and Chinese authorities dismantled a voice phishing syndicate responsible for $1.1 billion in losses affecting over 1,900 victims. This led to 27 arrests and 19 indictments.
During the operation, Interpol issued a Purple Notice warning about emerging cryptocurrency scams, specifically the "USDT Token Approval Scam." This scheme begins with romance baiting before directing victims to purchase Tether stablecoins, ultimately leading to unauthorized access to their crypto wallets.
Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza emphasized the devastating impact of cybercrime, stating that it can result in "people losing their life savings, businesses crippled, and trust in digital and financial systems undermined."
The operation showcased the effectiveness of Interpol's I-GRIP tool for intercepting stolen funds. In one case, Singapore Police successfully halted a transfer of $39.3 million that was fraudulently directed to a fake account in Timor Leste.
The operation concluded with two major initiatives: Operation Serengeti across 19 African countries, resulting in 1,006 arrests and the dismantling of over 134,000 malicious networks, and Operation Synergia II, which took down more than 22,000 servers linked to cybercriminal activities.
These coordinated international efforts demonstrate the growing capabilities of global law enforcement in combating cyber threats and protecting digital assets.