US and Dutch authorities have seized 39 domains and servers linked to the HeartSender cybercrime group, based in Pakistan. This group, also known as Saim Raza and Manipulators Team, was known for selling hacking and fraud tools. The coordinated law enforcement operation aimed to disrupt the network’s activities, which had caused over $3 million in victim losses.
The HeartSender network had been active since at least 2020, providing malicious software and phishing toolkits to transnational organized crime groups. These tools were marketed as “fully undetectable” and were used for various cybercrimes, including business email compromise (BEC) attacks, identity theft, and credential harvesting. The seizure marks a significant step in combating cybercrime and protecting potential victims from financial losses.
A Pakistan-based cybercrime group, HeartSender (aka Saim Raza and Manipulators Team), was disrupted by a joint operation between U.S. and Dutch authorities. 39 domains and servers linked to the group, known for selling hacking and fraud tools, were seized. This group generated millions in revenue selling malware and fraud tools to transnational organized crime groups, mainly focused on BEC attacks.
Crimenetwork, Germany’s largest online criminal marketplace, was shut down by authorities, resulting in the arrest of an administrator. The platform facilitated the sale of illegal goods and services, including drugs, forged documents, hacking tools, and stolen data, since 2012. The takedown signifies a significant blow to cybercrime in the German-speaking region.
This cluster involves incidents related to the takedown of various criminal communication platforms. The MATRIX encrypted messaging service, used by criminals for illegal activities, was dismantled in an international operation involving French and Dutch authorities, supported by Eurojust and Europol. The criminals were monitored for months before the operation was conducted. This demonstrates the continued efforts to disrupt and counteract criminal activity online through international cooperation.
Operation HAECHI V, a global cybercrime operation involving 40 countries, resulted in over 5,500 arrests and the seizure of over \$400 million in assets. The operation targeted various financial crimes, including phishing, romance scams, sextortion, and business email compromise (BEC).