EC3 helps to dismantle an international network of payment card fraudsters

Romanian and French law enforcement authorities, supported by the European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) at Europol, have successfully dismantled a Romanian organised crime group involved in international payment card skimming and associated fraud.

During a raid on 17 January 2014, 11 suspects were arrested as they planned to travel to Italy to commit skimming attacks. Among them was the leader of the criminal group as well as the financiers.

In addition, 26 premises were searched and illegal equipment seized. Police also dismantled two factories producing skimming devices, including sophisticated miniaturised versions. This activity followed an earlier week-long surveillance exercise carried out by French and Romanian law enforcement officers.

For more information read the related Press Release on the Europol website.

International Network of Latvian Payment Card Fraudsters Dismantled

The European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) at Europol, working with police in Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Bulgaria, Spain, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom, have taken down a criminal network of Latvian payment card fraudsters and arrested eight key members of the group.

The criminals were involved in compromising financial data during cash machine transactions across several EU and non-EU countries. The group posed a major threat for electronic payments by misusing European payment card data in remote destinations such as Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Thailand and the US.

EC3 provided operational and analytical support for the Operation, codenamed ' FatBoy', as well as coordinating the international investigations. Europol’s support also increased the efficiency of communication and cross-border analysis.

For more information read the related Press Release on the Europol website

Europe creates a Cybercrime Centre (EC3)

This month the European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) opened in the Hague at Europol.  EC3 will be the focal point in the EU’s fight against cybercrime, contributing to faster reactions in the event of online crimes. It will support Member States and the European Union’s institutions in building operational and analytical capacity for investigations and cooperation with international partners.