US Authorities Dismantle PopeyeTools Cybercrime Marketplace, Charge Three Administrators

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The U.S. Department of Justice has shut down PopeyeTools, a major cybercrime marketplace, and filed criminal charges against three administrators who allegedly ran the illegal operation since 2016.

The administrators - Abdul Ghaffar (25) and Abdul Sami (35) from Pakistan, and Javed Mirza (37) from Afghanistan - face charges of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and trafficking in access devices. If convicted, they could face up to 10 years in prison for each offense.

PopeyeTools served as an online black market where criminals could purchase stolen financial data and tools for committing fraud. The platform trafficked sensitive information from at least 227,000 individuals and generated approximately $1.7 million in revenue through illegal sales.

The website offered stolen credit card details for around $30 per card, along with bank account information, email spam lists, and various cybercrime tutorials. To attract customers, PopeyeTools provided guarantees on their stolen data, offering refunds or replacements if the information proved invalid.

As part of the operation, U.S. authorities seized three domain names associated with PopeyeTools:

Law enforcement also confiscated approximately $283,000 worth of cryptocurrency from an account controlled by Abdul Sami.

The takedown involved collaboration between U.S. law enforcement and international partners in the United Kingdom and Malaysia. FBI Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran emphasized the bureau's commitment to pursuing cybercriminals and dismantling their infrastructure.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri highlighted that this action demonstrates the Justice Department's comprehensive strategy to combat cybercrime, including ransomware attacks and financial fraud.

The case will be prosecuted in the Western District of New York, where some of the victims resided. U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross praised the coordinated efforts of federal and international law enforcement in disrupting this criminal enterprise.