BreachForums, a key English-language cybercrime forum, seized by the FBI | CyberScoop<\/title> <meta name=\"description\" content=\"The takedown comes nearly a year after the site was reconstituted after a previous seizure. \"> <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/breachforums-a-key-english-language-cybercrime-forum-seized-by-the-fbi\/\"> <meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\"> <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"> <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"BreachForums, a key English-language cybercrime forum, seized by the FBI\"> <meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The takedown comes nearly a year after the site was reconstituted after a previous seizure. \"> <meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/breachforums-a-key-english-language-cybercrime-forum-seized-by-the-fbi\/\"> <meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"CyberScoop\"> <meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-05-15T15:18:46+00:00\"> <meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-05-15T16:11:49+00:00\"> <meta name=\"author\" content=\"AJ Vicens\"> <meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\"> <meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/breachforums-a-key-english-language-cybercrime-forum-seized-by-the-fbi-2.png\"> <meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@AJVicens\">  <link rel=\"dns-prefetch\" href=\"\/\/securepubads.g.doubleclick.net\">\n<link rel=\"dns-prefetch\" href=\"\/\/use.typekit.net\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" type=\"application\/rss+xml\" title=\"CyberScoop \u00bb Feed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/feed\/\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" type=\"application\/rss+xml\" title=\"CyberScoop \u00bb Comments Feed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/comments\/feed\/\"> <link rel=\"stylesheet\" id=\"all-css-2\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-includes\/css\/dist\/block-library\/style.min.css?m=1715117951g\" type=\"text\/css\" media=\"all\"> 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content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=270\"> <\/head><body class=\"post-template-default single single-post postid-80437 single-format-standard\" id=\"readabilityBody\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/breachforums-a-key-english-language-cybercrime-forum-seized-by-the-fbi\/#main\" class=\"skip-to-content-link visually-hidden-focusable\">Skip to main content<\/a> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--top ad--top-desktop\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <main id=\"main\" role=\"main\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--top ad--top-mobile\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"stickybar\" class=\"stickybar stickybar--newsletter js-stickybar\" readability=\"0.82\"> <button class=\"stickybar__close js-stickybar-close\" aria-controls=\"stickybar\"> <svg class=\"icon icon--close\" width=\"21\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 22\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"m.822.518-.805.805L9.695 11 .017 20.678l.805.805 9.678-9.678 9.677 9.678.806-.805L11.305 11l9.678-9.677-.806-.805-9.677 9.677L.822.518Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg> <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Close<\/span> <\/button> <\/section>\n<article class=\"single-article content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__container js-single-article-content\">\n<header class=\"single-article__header \" readability=\"24.390879478827\">\n<div class=\"single-article__header-content\" readability=\"29.004926108374\">\n<ul class=\"single-article__eyebrow\">\n<li class=\"single-article__category\"> <a class=\"single-article__category-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/news\/threats\/cybercrime\/\"> <span>Cybercrime<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> The takedown comes nearly a year after the site was reconstituted after a previous seizure. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__cover-wrap\">\n<figure class=\"single-article__cover\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"640\" height=\"339\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/breachforums-a-key-english-language-cybercrime-forum-seized-by-the-fbi.png?resize=640%2C339&ssl=1\" class=\"single-article__cover-image wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/breachforums-a-key-english-language-cybercrime-forum-seized-by-the-fbi-2.png 1920w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/breachforums-a-key-english-language-cybercrime-forum-seized-by-the-fbi-2.png?resize=300,159 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/breachforums-a-key-english-language-cybercrime-forum-seized-by-the-fbi-2.png?resize=768,406 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/breachforums-a-key-english-language-cybercrime-forum-seized-by-the-fbi-2.png?resize=1024,542 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/breachforums-a-key-english-language-cybercrime-forum-seized-by-the-fbi-2.png?resize=1536,813 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/breachforums-a-key-english-language-cybercrime-forum-seized-by-the-fbi-2.png?resize=600,318 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/breachforums-a-key-english-language-cybercrime-forum-seized-by-the-fbi-2.png?resize=1200,635 1200w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/breachforums-a-key-english-language-cybercrime-forum-seized-by-the-fbi-2.png?resize=1500,794 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"><figcaption> Law enforcement seizure notice posted to the BreachForums website Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (CyberScoop) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"single-article__content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__content-inner has-drop-cap\"> <html readability=\"24.237965260546\"><body readability=\"50.362128146453\"><\/p>\n<p>The FBI, the Department of Justice and a range of international law enforcement agencies seized on Wednesday a notorious website used to buy and sell stolen and hacked data. <\/p>\n<p>The operation to seize BreachForums is the second time in the past year that authorities have seized the site. A previous iteration was seized in June 2023, after <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/breachforums-arrest-cybercrime-underground\/\">U.S. authorities arrested<\/a> Conor Fitzpatrick, the creator and administrator of the site where cybercriminals bought and sold hacked and stolen data, compromised credentials, and more. Within a month of the seizure, <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/breachforums-return-criminal-hackers\/\">BreachForums was reconstituted<\/a> and has been operational ever since.<\/p>\n<p>A seizure notice posted to the site Wednesday said the site had been seized by the FBI and the DOJ, along with enforcement agencies in the U.K., New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, Ukraine and Iceland.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/breachforums-a-key-english-language-cybercrime-forum-seized-by-the-fbi-1.png?w=640&ssl=1\" alt><\/figure>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The seizure includes BreachForums\u2019 Telegram channel, as well as the channel operated by a persona known as Baphomet, a BreachForums admin under Fitzpatrick prior to his arrest, and the one who led the site\u2019s resurgence. <\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not clear whether the operation only involves the seizure of just the site and Telegram channels, or whether there have also been any arrests. <\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/breachforums.ic3.gov\/\">FBI also set up a reporting form<\/a> asking for information related to BreachForums in any of its iterations. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cFrom June 2023 until May 2024, BreachForums (hosted at breachforums.st\/.cx\/.is\/.vc and run by ShinyHunters) was operating as a clear-net marketplace for cybercriminals to buy, sell, and trade contraband, including stolen access devices, means of identification, hacking tools, breached databases, and other illegal services,\u201d the form reads. <\/p>\n<p>The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\" readability=\"1.0206766917293\">\n<div class=\"author-card\" readability=\"8\">\n<div class=\"author-card__avatar\">\n<figure class=\"author-card__image-wrap\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-card__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/breachforums-a-key-english-language-cybercrime-forum-seized-by-the-fbi.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\" alt=\"AJ Vicens\"> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h4 class=\"author-card__name\">Written by AJ Vicens<\/h4>\n<p> AJ covers nation-state threats and cybercrime. He was previously a reporter at Mother Jones. Get in touch via Signal\/WhatsApp: (810-206-9411). <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__tags-container\">\n<h4 class=\"single-article__tags-title\">In This Story<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<p> <\/html><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__ads js-single-article-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-5 ad--rightrail_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-4 ad--rightrail_2 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-3 ad--rightrail_3 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"popular-stories popular-stories--single-post\">\n<div class=\"popular-stories__container\">\n<h2 class=\"popular-stories__title\"> More Scoops <\/h2>\n<p>  <\/div>\n<p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<section class=\"latest-podcasts\">\n<h2 class=\"latest-podcasts__title\"> Latest Podcasts\t<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"top-categories\">\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Government<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Technology<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Geopolitics<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/main> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--bottom \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"interstitial\" class=\"welcome__container\"> <button id=\"close-modal-1\" class=\"welcome__clickable_area\"><\/button> <\/p>\n<div class=\"welcome__ad_wrapper\">\n<p> <button id=\"close-modal-3\" class=\"welcome__continue-button\">Continue to CyberScoop<\/button> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>   <\/body> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/breachforums-a-key-english-language-cybercrime-forum-seized-by-the-fbi\/\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>BreachForums, a key English-language cybercrime forum, seized by the FBI<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[584,282,338,669],"tags":[585,286,341,671],"class_list":["post-3576","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-breachforum","category-cybercrime","category-department-of-justice-doj","category-federal-bureau-of-investigation-fbi","tag-breachforum","tag-cybercrime","tag-department-of-justice-doj","tag-federal-bureau-of-investigation-fbi"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":"","chromenews-featured":"","chromenews-large":"","chromenews-medium":""},"author_info":{"display_name":"Cyber Scoop","author_link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/author\/cyberscoop\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/breachforum\/\" rel=\"category tag\">BreachForum<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/cybercrime\/\" rel=\"category tag\">cybercrime<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/department-of-justice-doj\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/federal-bureau-of-investigation-fbi\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)<\/a>","tag_info":"Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)","comment_count":"0","jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3576","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3576"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3576\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3576"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3576"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3576"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

{"id":3576,"date":"2024-05-15T10:18:46","date_gmt":"2024-05-15T15:18:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=80437"},"modified":"2024-05-15T10:18:46","modified_gmt":"2024-05-15T15:18:46","slug":"breachforums-a-key-english-language-cybercrime-forum-seized-by-the-fbi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2024\/05\/15\/breachforums-a-key-english-language-cybercrime-forum-seized-by-the-fbi\/","title":{"rendered":"BreachForums, a key English-language cybercrime forum, seized by the FBI"},"content":{"rendered":"