Gardai arrest six in international fraud call investigation

• Published date: 24 November 2022

The website iSpoof.cc was used by thousands of fraudsters internationally to scam people through a process known as "spoofing", where scams take place over phone calls or texts. The investigation involved law enforcement agencies across several countries such as the US, UK and Canada and led to the search of 17 properties in Ireland

The website enabled people to send out texts and make phone calls that appeared to be from trusted sources, such as the HSE and An Garda Siochana. The texts contained a link, which if pressed allowed fraudsters to collect personal information and hack people's back accounts.

The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) supported by the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB) and local Divisional resources in Dublin, Meath and Louth coordinated activity in Ireland on November 8 and 9 2022 resulting in

17 searches (Dublin, Meath, Louth)

6 arrests including execution of 14 bench warrants

132 electronic devices seized

64 suspect bank accounts identified

Ancillary evidential exhibits seized

The deception is estimated to have cost victims a staggering €115 million worldwide.

Europol's Executive Director Catherine De Bolle welcomed the arrests, adding that they sent a strong message out to cybercriminals...