Interpol’s Operation First Light, a global initiative involving 61 countries, dismantled online scam networks by freezing 6,745 bank accounts and seizing assets worth $257 million, including $2 million in cryptocurrency. The operation targeted phishing, investment fraud, fake online shopping sites, romance and impersonation scams, leading to the arrest of 3,950 suspects and the identification of 14,643 potential suspects worldwide.
Operation First Light cracks down on online scams
The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) announced Thursday that Operation First Light, a global initiative involving 61 countries, has dealt a major blow to online fraud networks. The operation resulted in the freezing of 6,745 bank accounts and the seizure of assets worth $257 million. The announcement describes:
Targeting phishing, investment fraud, fake online shopping sites, romance scams and identity theft, Operation First Light 2024 resulted in the arrest of 3,950 suspects and identified 14,643 other possible suspects across all continents.
During the operation, police intercepted approximately $135 million in fiat currency and $2 million in cryptocurrency. In addition, authorities seized assets worth more than $120 million, including real estate, luxury vehicles, high-end jewelry, and other valuables.
Operation First Light began in 2023 and concluded with its final tactical phase from March to May 2024. Funded by China’s Ministry of Public Security, the operation concluded with a meeting in Tianjin, where the participating countries they examined the results, exchanged information and developed strategies for future actions. Since 2014, Interpol has coordinated First Light operations to strengthen international cooperation and intensify efforts against social engineering and fraud in the telecommunications sector.
Interpol explained in detail:
Using Interpol’s Global Rapid Intervention of Payments (I-GRIP) mechanism to track and intercept illicit proceeds of crime, both fiat and cryptocurrency, police intercepted $331,000 in a business email compromise scam involving a Spanish victim who transferred money to Hong Kong, China.
What do you think about Interpol’s Operation First Light to combat online scam networks? Let us know in the comments section below.
