INTERPOL’s latest operation, HAECHI-V, has resulted in over 5,500 arrests and the seizure of more than $400 million in assets during a coordinated global cybercrime crackdown between July and November 2024. The operation involved law enforcement from 40 countries and regions.
The group, which caused $1.1 billion in losses affecting 1,900 victims, posed as law enforcement officials using fake identification. Twenty-seven members were arrested, with 19 facing indictment.
INTERPOL also issued a warning about a new cryptocurrency fraud scheme called the USDT Token Approval Scam. The scam combines romance fraud tactics with cryptocurrency investment, tricking victims into authorizing access to their digital wallets through phishing links.
This operation builds on INTERPOL’s previous successes, including last year’s operation that led to 3,500 arrests and $300 million in seizures. It also follows a recent African cybercrime operation that resulted in over 1,000 arrests and the takedown of 134,089 malicious networks.
INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza emphasized that international cooperation is crucial in fighting cybercrime, given its borderless nature and potentially devastating impact on individuals and businesses.
