Global Law Enforcement Unites to Dismantle Major Cybercrime and Hacking Forums
In a significant blow to cybercrime, an international coalition of law enforcement agencies has successfully dismantled two prominent hacking forums, Cracked and Nulled, which boasted over 10 million users. This operation, known as Operation Talent, was led by Europol in collaboration with Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt or BKA).
Details of the Operation
On Thursday, Europol and the BKA announced the seizure of these forums, referred to as “the world’s two largest trading platforms for cybercrime on the internet.” This operation marks a major achievement in the ongoing battle against online criminal activities.
Seizures and Arrests
The crackdown occurred between Tuesday and Thursday, resulting in:
- Two arrests
- Searches of seven properties
- Seizure of 17 servers
- 50 electronic devices
- €300,000 ($313,000) in cash and cryptocurrency
According to the BKA, the coalition seized a total of a dozen accounts and domains across ten countries. Among those arrested were two German nationals, one residing in Germany and the other in Spain.
Impact on Cybercrime
Europol highlighted that these sites served as central hubs for discussions and transactions related to cybercrime, including:
- Stolen data
- Malware
- Hacking tools
In addition to the arrests, law enforcement agencies obtained crucial data, including email addresses, IP addresses, and communication histories from the forums.
International Collaboration
This operation involved multiple international law enforcement agencies, including those from Australia, France, Greece, Italy, Romania, and Spain, alongside the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice. A video released by Europol captured Spanish authorities conducting raids, leading to multiple arrests and the seizure of evidence.
Future Developments
The Australian Federal Police have indicated they will provide updates on their involvement at a later date. For more information on ongoing efforts against cybercrime, you can visit Europol’s official website.
Continuing the Fight Against Cybercrime
Operation Talent is part of a larger series of law enforcement initiatives aimed at combating cybercrime. Previous operations include the takedown of BreachForums in 2023 and subsequent actions in 2024, which resulted in multiple arrests and the identification of fugitives involved in various cybercrime schemes.
For further inquiries or tips about cybercrime operations, you can contact Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai securely via Signal at +1 917 257 1382, or through Telegram and Keybase @lorenzofb.
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