Europol Shuts Down iServer Phishing Scheme and Ghost Cybercrime Chat Platform
Sep 20, 2024
Cybercrime / Digital Forensics
Law enforcement authorities have announced the takedown of an international criminal network that leveraged a phishing platform to unlock stolen or lost mobile phones. The phishing-as-a-service (PhaaS) platform, called iServer, is estimated to have claimed more than 483,000 victims globally, led by Chile (77,000), Colombia (70,000), Ecuador (42,000), Peru (41,500), Spain (30,000), and Argentina (29,000). "The victims are mainly Spanish-speaking nationals from European, North American and South American countries," Europol said in a press statement. The action, dubbed Operation Kaerb, involved the participation of law enforcement and judicial agencies from Spain, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Pursuant to the joint exercise that took place between September 10 and 17, an Argentinian national responsible for developing and running the PhaaS service since 2018 has been arrested. In total, the operation led to 17 arrests, 28 searches, and the seizure of 92