Second international action on e-commerce fraud yields 73 arrests
The eCommerce Action 2017, a joint law enforcement operation which took place in 26 countries from 6-16 June 2017, resulted in the arrest of 73 professional fraudsters and members of internet based criminal networks suspected of online fraud activities. The suspects were responsible for more than 20,000 fraudulent transactions with compromised credit cards, an estimated value exceeding EUR 5 million ($5.6M).
The eCommerce Action 2017 (eComm 2017) targeted the criminal networks involved in this crime and the locations where illegally purchased goods had been delivered. Law enforcement and private sector formed teams for practical cooperation. The participating countries include: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Hungary, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. They received support and operational information from Canada, USA, Colombia, Iceland, and Georgia. The Europol European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) coordinated this operation from its headquarters in The Hague, with direct assistance from payment card schemes, banks, logistic companies and eMerchants. EC3 also supported national authorities on-the-spot by providing analytical services to the Member States.
Hundreds of packages from online shops were intercepted and more than 100 locations were searched, using information that had been previously submitted by eMerchant, payment and logistic companies. The house searches led to the seizures of high-value goods, including electronic appliances, smartphones, tablets, watches and clothing. The joint analysis method revealed criminal hot spots and organized criminal groups that attempted to bypass the various security measures of merchants and financial institutions. The investigative measures also revealed that some of the suspects have been involved in other forms of crime, such as identity fraud, phishing, cyber-attacks, romance fraud, illegal use of stolen passports, illegal immigration and money laundering. Around 200 websites and social media accounts were used to broker fraudulently purchased electronic goods. The requests to have them taken down were sent to the hosting companies. Some of these criminally used social media platforms had more than 10,000 followers each. It is suspected that the followers formed potential customer bases for these organized crime groups. [For more: Merchant Risk Council]
Thief caught on tape brazenly breaking into and stealing from bicycle shop [Video]
A Burbank, California, bicycle shop was the target of a brazen theft early Monday morning after someone broke through the store’s window and walked away with a pair of bikes. Surveillance footage captured an unknown person walking up to H & S Bicycles on 509 N. Victory Blvd. around 2:17 a.m. and throwing an object at the store’s large front window before breaking it down with his or her arm. The person then grabbed a bike and briefly rode away from the store before returning and grabbing a second one.
Robert Stotts, who owns the store, said each of the bikes cost roughly $4,000. One is described as a navy and yellow Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt while the other is a turquoise and burgundy Rocky Mountain Altitude. According to Stotts, whose family has owned the business for nearly 18 years, the Altitude isn’t widely available in Southern California. “It’s probably one of out of five bikes here in Southern California right now because they’re just so new,” he said. “So that model is particular very rare right now.” It’s not the first time the store has been targeted either. Stotts said the latest incident is probably the third in the last six months. “These bikes are unique in frame color and style, they’re high-end … so we’re asking the public to keep their eyes open.” As for the store, Stotts said new glass is being installed that will be tougher to break as well as a metal scissor gate to help lock up the storefront. He said the store is offering a $300 reward for anyone to provide information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about thefts can contact the Burbank Police Department at (818) 238-3000. [For more: Los Angeles Times]
Employee fakes stabbing to cover up robbery
The Madison County State’s Attorney charged a 23-year-old Bethalto man for allegedly faking a robbing and stabbing in order to conceal his own theft. According to Deputy Chief Daniel Bunt, Wood River Illinois Police Department, officers were called to the Family Dollar on West Edwardsville Road for a reported robbery and assault. An employee at the store told police he’d been stabbed and robbed while outside the building. The first officer at the scene described the reported stab wounds as superficial, Bunt said. The employee, identified as Zachary Hayes, was taken to Alton Memorial Hospital while additional police responded to the scene. Investigators eventually determined the robbery and stabbing did not take place, Bunt said. Hayes was charged with theft over $500 and disorderly conduct. Hayes was jailed on $100,000 bond. [For more: Fox2 News]
Cargo theft up at holding yards around Georgia Ports
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation Major Theft Unit is reporting a sharp increase in cargo theft from holding yards surrounding the Georgia Port. According to Special Agent John Cannon with the Major Theft Unit, the GBI normally sees up five to seven container thefts each year. However, just in the last two months, three containers have been stolen. Jac Greenlea with the Southeastern Transportation Security Council (SETSC) said these thefts are occurring in privately owned yards off of port property. “The containers leave the port and have a tendency to go into so-called ‘secure yards,’ which really aren’t. A lot of those yards are not secure,” he said.
Greenlea said SETSC is seeing this happen across the southeast. “They’ll pilfer, they’ll open doors, and they’ll look, and they’ll see and find the container that’s of the stuff they can, they can put back into the legitimate supply chain,” he said. The non-profit organization held a meeting Tuesday to discuss with law enforcement agencies and private holding yard companies how to secure their property properly. There are three goals Greenlea put forth in the meeting. SETSC will identify the problem, mainly security issues, work with the private companies to implement the security measures, and then monitor them to see if they are making a difference. The Major Theft Unit and SETSC say they caught the spike in thefts early, so they are working now to create a solution. Although the unit is less than 10 years old, agents have recovered $70 million in stolen cargo. [For more: Fox28 Media]
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