In a coordinated effort to disrupt global cybercrime, Microsoft, Meta, and the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) have taken independent actions to dismantle networks facilitating online fraud and scams. Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) seized 240 fraudulent websites associated with an Egypt-based cybercriminal, Abanoub Nady, also known as MRxC0DER. Nady’s phishing kit, ONNX, which has been sold since 2017, enabled attackers to bypass security measures, including two-factor authentication, in phishing campaigns targeting industries such as finance. This kit was marketed on Telegram and was particularly dangerous due to its ability to bypass critical security protections, making it a major threat to businesses and individuals alike.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Justice took action against the PopeyeTools marketplace, a notorious platform for selling stolen credit card information and tools used in financial fraud. PopeyeTools has been in operation since 2016, facilitating access to sensitive data, including bank account details and email lists. The DoJ unsealed charges against three administrators based in Pakistan and Afghanistan, accusing them of running the marketplace. PopeyeTools is believed to have generated over $1.7 million in revenue from selling fraudulent access devices and personally identifiable information (PII), affecting over 227,000 individuals globally.
Meta also made significant strides in combating cybercrime by taking down over two million accounts linked to scam centers operating across Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, the UAE, and the Philippines. These scam centers, which have been involved in “pig butchering” schemes, prey on victims through social media and dating apps, often manipulating them into investing large sums of money in bogus opportunities. These operations are run by organized crime syndicates that build trusted personal relationships with victims, only to exploit them financially. Meta’s actions, which were part of a broader effort alongside Coinbase, Ripple, and Match Group, highlight the importance of industry collaboration to combat global online fraud.
Together, these efforts from Microsoft, Meta, and the DoJ represent a unified front against the growing threat of cybercrime. The coordinated takedowns and legal actions not only target cybercriminals directly but also aim to disrupt the infrastructure supporting their illicit activities. As online scams and fraud continue to evolve, these agencies are working tirelessly to protect individuals and organizations from financial harm, emphasizing the need for global cooperation to tackle cybercrime on all fronts.
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