International law enforcement, led by Germany’s Cybercrime Department, has taken down three sophisticated fraud and money laundering networks in an operation codenamed ‘Chargeback.’ This effort exposed one of the largest credit card fraud schemes in recent history, affecting over 4.3 million cardholders across 193 countries. The total damages have surpassed EUR 300 million, with attempted fraud exceeding EUR 750 million. On November 4, 2025, a substantial enforcement action was carried out, resulting in more than 60 house searches and 18 arrests in various countries.
The investigation, which began in December 2020, saw critical support from Europol, aiding in the arrest of 44 suspects. In Germany alone, over 250 officers conducted extensive searches and executed multiple arrest warrants. Among those arrested are alleged network operators and payment service executives, accused of creating around 19 million fake online subscriptions, expertly disguised to evade detection. These fraudulent subscriptions, linked to pornography, dating, and streaming services, exploited stolen credit card information and were designed to mislead cardholders through vague transaction descriptions.
Additionally, the fraud networks used shell companies and crime-as-a-service providers to mask their activities and establish a façade of legitimacy. This sophisticated approach allowed the criminals to maximize profits while significantly reducing the risk of being caught, highlighting the challenges faced by authorities in combating such comprehensive criminal operations.
👉 Pročitaj original: Cyber Security News
