- Interpol’s Operation Synergy III dismantles global cybercrime networks
- 94 arrests, more than 45,000 malicious servers and IPs removed
- The crackdown spread to 72 countries and targeted scams ranging from phishing to loan fraud
Nearly 100 people were arrested and thousands of servers were disabled in an international police operation that lasted several months, Interpol announced.
In a press release shared late last week, the international police force said it coordinated Operation Synergy III, which began in mid-July last year and concluded in late January this year. During that time, police forces from 72 countries raided key locations, confiscated electronic devices and arrested people.
In total, 94 people were arrested and another 110 people “under investigation.” More than 45,000 malicious servers and IP addresses were removed and 212 electronic devices were seized.
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China, Bangladesh, Togo
“Cybercrime in 2026 is more sophisticated and destructive than ever, but Operation Synergy III is a powerful testament to what global cooperation can achieve. INTERPOL remains at the forefront of this fight, uniting law enforcement agencies and private sector experts to dismantle criminal networks, disrupt emerging threats and protect victims around the world,” said Neal Jetton, Director of INTERPOL’s Cybercrime Directorate.
The season focused on different scam operations in different locations. For example, law enforcement in China identified more than 33,000 fake and phishing websites, related to fake casinos and critical infrastructure (payment services, banks, government sites).
In Togo, police arrested 10 people for hacking social media accounts, social engineering schemes, romance scams and sextortion, and in Bangladesh, 40 were arrested for loan scams, employment scams, identity theft and credit card fraud.
In addition to a long list of national police forces, Interpol also said some private organizations were also involved, including Group-IB, Trend Micro and S2W.
It’s been a tough couple of weeks for cybercriminals, as Tycoon 2FA, one of the world’s largest phishing platforms as a service (PhaaS), was also taken down after a global coordinated law enforcement operation. This operation was led by Europol and included police forces from Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Successfully dismantled a phishing operation that was active since at least August 2023 and allowed thousands of cybercriminals to access email and cloud-based service accounts.
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