Large cybercrime raid: two forums and ten million users switched off!

Large cybercrime raid: two forums and ten million users switched off!

Kreis Segeberg, Schleswig-Holstein, Deutschland - The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and the Attorney General in Frankfurt am Main have switched off two important cybercrime forums, "Nulled.to" and "Cracked.io" in a large-scale international raid. These platforms offered cybercrime services worldwide and attracted a total of around ten million users. The investigation that has been running since March 2024 led to the identification of eight people who were involved in the operating structures. Among them are two Germans aged 29 and 32 who live in the Segeberg district (Schleswig-Holstein) and in Valencia (Spain). In the event of a conviction, they threaten up to ten years in prison.

The challenges of cybercrime

The world is now more digitally networked than ever, which offers criminal new opportunities to exploit weaknesses in online systems. Attacks such as phishing, ransomware and data injuries have massive economic and social effects on governments, companies and individuals worldwide. This is not only shown in the switched off forums, but also in the experiences of the citizens.

According to the Cyber ​​Security Monitor 2024, a representative dark field study by BSI and the police, 24 % of German victims of cybercrime were already. It is particularly worrying that 44 % of those surveyed who have been victims of online fraud in the past 12 months were affected by identity theft or fraud by trade fair service. The most common crimes on the Internet are fraud, followed by fraud in online shopping and online banking, which illustrates the vulnerability of users in the digital world.

protective measures and social perception

Despite the threat of cybercrime, 56 % of those surveyed assess their future risk as low or excluded. This proportion is particularly high among young people between the ages of 16 and 22 at 68 %. This is remarkable, since many still only take 3.9 protective measures, with antivirus programs and safe passwords represent the most common measures.

The Cyber ​​Security Monitor 2024 in particular focuses on the use and protection of smart home devices and shows that 37 % of the respondents are concerned about increasing networking and the increasing number of internet-compatible devices. However, the problem of cybercrime not only requires individual action, but also close cooperation between public and private partners to ensure security in the digital world. Interpol plays a central role here by coordinating international law enforcement operations and strengthening the capacity of the member countries.