Interpol cybercrime crackdown nets 5,800 arrests across 97 countries | CyberScoop<\/title> <meta name=\"description\" content=\"The anti-fraud crackdown, dubbed Operation First Light, identified more than 142,000 victims of various social-engineering scams.\"> <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/interpol-cybercrime-crackdown-operation-first-light\/\"> <meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\"> <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"> <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Interpol cybercrime crackdown nets 5,800 arrests across 97 countries\"> <meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The anti-fraud crackdown, dubbed Operation First Light, identified more than 142,000 victims of various social-engineering scams.\"> <meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/interpol-cybercrime-crackdown-operation-first-light\/\"> <meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"CyberScoop\"> <meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/cyberscoop\/\"> <meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-09T17:22:15+00:00\"> <meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-07-09T17:22:18+00:00\"> <meta name=\"author\" content=\"Matt Kapko\"> <meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\"> <meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/interpol-cybercrime-crackdown-nets-5800-arrests-across-97-countries-1.png\"> <meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@CyberScoopNews\"> <meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@CyberScoopNews\">  <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=1778775768g\" type=\"text\/css\" media=\"all\"> <link rel=\"stylesheet\" id=\"all-css-6\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/mu-plugins\/search\/elasticpress\/dist\/css\/related-posts-block-styles.min.css?m=1783350695g\" type=\"text\/css\" media=\"all\"> <link rel=\"stylesheet\" id=\"all-css-8\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/themes\/scoopnewsgroup\/dist\/css\/frontend.css?m=1782867887g\" type=\"text\/css\" media=\"all\">\n<link rel=\"stylesheet\" id=\"typekit-css\" href=\"https:\/\/use.typekit.net\/itk2qbh.css?ver=9519dd464d894b805a10\" media=\"all\"> <link rel=\"https:\/\/api.w.org\/\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-json\/\"><link rel=\"alternate\" title=\"JSON\" type=\"application\/json\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89762\"><meta name=\"generator\" content=\"WordPress 6.8.5\">\n<link rel=\"shortlink\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=89762\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" title=\"oEmbed (JSON)\" type=\"application\/json+oembed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-json\/oembed\/1.0\/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcyberscoop.com%2Finterpol-cybercrime-crackdown-operation-first-light%2F\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" title=\"oEmbed (XML)\" type=\"text\/xml+oembed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-json\/oembed\/1.0\/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcyberscoop.com%2Finterpol-cybercrime-crackdown-operation-first-light%2F&format=xml\">   <link rel=\"icon\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=32\" sizes=\"32x32\">\n<link rel=\"icon\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=192\" sizes=\"192x192\">\n<link rel=\"apple-touch-icon\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=180\">\n<meta name=\"msapplication-TileImage\" content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=270\"> <\/head><body class=\"wp-singular post-template-default single single-post postid-89762 single-format-standard wp-theme-scoopnewsgroup wp-child-theme-cyberscoop\" id=\"readabilityBody\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/interpol-cybercrime-crackdown-operation-first-light\/#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=\"26.998211091234\">\n<div class=\"single-article__header-content\" readability=\"37\">\n<ul class=\"single-article__eyebrow\">\n<li class=\"single-article__category\"> <a class=\"single-article__category-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/interpol-cybercrime-crackdown-operation-first-light\/\"> <span>Cybercrime<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> The anti-fraud crackdown, dubbed Operation First Light, identified more than 142,000 victims of various social-engineering scams. <\/p>\n<p>  <br \/>\n<audio id=\"audio-player\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-tts-cdn.api.scpnewsgrp.com\/cyberscoop\/89762\/english.openai.mp3\"><\/audio> <\/p>\n<div readability=\"11\">\n<div>\n<p>Listen to this article<\/p>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p>0:00<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p> <span id=\"tts-tooltip\">Learn more.<\/span> <span> This feature uses an automated voice, which may result in occasional errors in pronunciation, tone, or sentiment. <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/div>\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=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/interpol-cybercrime-crackdown-nets-5800-arrests-across-97-countries.png?resize=640%2C422&ssl=1\" class=\"single-article__cover-image wp-post-image\" alt=\"Interpol Operation First Light\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/interpol-cybercrime-crackdown-nets-5800-arrests-across-97-countries-1.png 2040w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/interpol-cybercrime-crackdown-nets-5800-arrests-across-97-countries-1.png?resize=300,198 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/interpol-cybercrime-crackdown-nets-5800-arrests-across-97-countries-1.png?resize=768,507 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/interpol-cybercrime-crackdown-nets-5800-arrests-across-97-countries-1.png?resize=1024,676 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/interpol-cybercrime-crackdown-nets-5800-arrests-across-97-countries-1.png?resize=1536,1013 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/interpol-cybercrime-crackdown-nets-5800-arrests-across-97-countries-1.png?resize=600,396 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/interpol-cybercrime-crackdown-nets-5800-arrests-across-97-countries-1.png?resize=255,168 255w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/interpol-cybercrime-crackdown-nets-5800-arrests-across-97-countries-1.png?resize=511,337 511w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/interpol-cybercrime-crackdown-nets-5800-arrests-across-97-countries-1.png?resize=1023,675 1023w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/interpol-cybercrime-crackdown-nets-5800-arrests-across-97-countries-1.png?resize=1278,843 1278w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1023px) 100vw, 1023px\"><figcaption> Police in Eswatini seized a replica of a Brazilian police station, including fake uniforms and signage that cybercriminals allegedly used to deceive victims. (Interpol) <\/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=\"31.448979591837\"><body readability=\"66.238982280781\"><\/p>\n<p>Authorities arrested more than 5,800 alleged cybercriminals and seized $293 million in a global operation targeting social-engineering scams and money laundering across 97 countries, Interpol said Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>The anti-fraud crackdown, dubbed Operation First Light, identified <a href=\"https:\/\/www.interpol.int\/News-and-Events\/News\/2026\/Over-5-800-arrests-USD-293-million-intercepted-in-global-fraud-bust\">more than 142,000 victims<\/a>, including people, businesses and governments, officials said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cSocial engineering scams continue to pose a significant threat to our society. Criminal syndicates exploit human psychology to manipulate their targets, and no nation can stay safe unless all countries are equipped and committed to jointly fighting back,\u201d Tomonobu Kaya, director of Interpol\u2019s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>Police identified more than 15,500 cybercrime suspects during the operation, which spanned more than three months ending in late April, according to Interpol. Officials also analyzed more than 152,800 cases of cybercrime, including business email compromise, sextortion, romance scams, impersonation and investment schemes. <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Interpol said nearly 24,000 cases of cybercrime were solved and investigators blocked more than 31,000 bank accounts linked to malicious activity during the crackdown.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities involved in the globally coordinated operation seized a high volume of devices and other equipment used to allegedly facilitate cybercrime. <\/p>\n<p>In Eswatini, police seized a replica of a Brazilian police station, including fake uniforms, signage and equipment that cybercriminals allegedly used to deceive targets into thinking they were victims of a crime, duping them into transferring funds.<\/p>\n<p>While uncovering a romance scam money laundering operation in Thailand, investigators identified a 20-year-old suspect that allegedly processed more than $122.5 million in 10 months, according to Interpol. Officials in Palau identified and deported 22 people allegedly involved in a pair of scam centers operating from hotels.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cInterpol is dedicated to supporting member countries in building a comprehensive, coordinated strategy to tackle cyber-enabled financial crimes, organized criminal networks and the money laundering that fuels them,\u201d Kaya said.<\/p>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\" readability=\"3.3127306273063\">\n<div class=\"author-card\" readability=\"14\">\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\/2026\/07\/interpol-cybercrime-crackdown-nets-5800-arrests-across-97-countries.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\" alt=\"Matt Kapko\"> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h4 class=\"author-card__name\">Written by Matt Kapko<\/h4>\n<p> Matt Kapko is a reporter at CyberScoop. His beat includes cybercrime, ransomware, software defects and vulnerability (mis)management. The lifelong Californian started his journalism career in 2001 with previous stops at Cybersecurity Dive, CIO, SDxCentral and RCR Wireless News. Matt has a degree in journalism and history from Humboldt State University. <\/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<\/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\/interpol-cybercrime-crackdown-operation-first-light\/\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Interpol cybercrime crackdown nets 5,800 arrests across 97 countries |<\/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":[2336,282,78,782,4962,707,7055,4963,2657,2533],"tags":[2338,286,86,787,4965,709,7056,4966,2658,2536],"class_list":["post-8815","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-email-compromise-bec","category-cybercrime","category-cybersecurity","category-interpol","category-investment-scams","category-money-laundering","category-operation-first-light","category-romance-scams","category-sextortion","category-social-engineering","tag-business-email-compromise-bec","tag-cybercrime","tag-cybersecurity","tag-interpol","tag-investment-scams","tag-money-laundering","tag-operation-first-light","tag-romance-scams","tag-sextortion","tag-social-engineering"],"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\/business-email-compromise-bec\/\" rel=\"category tag\">business email compromise (BEC)<\/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\/cybersecurity\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Cybersecurity<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/interpol\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Interpol<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/investment-scams\/\" rel=\"category tag\">investment scams<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/money-laundering\/\" rel=\"category tag\">money laundering<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/operation-first-light\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Operation First Light<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/romance-scams\/\" rel=\"category tag\">romance scams<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/sextortion\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Sextortion<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/social-engineering\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Social engineering<\/a>","tag_info":"Social engineering","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\/8815","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=8815"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8815\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8815"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8815"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8815"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

{"id":8815,"date":"2026-07-09T12:22:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T17:22:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=89762"},"modified":"2026-07-09T12:22:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T17:22:15","slug":"interpol-cybercrime-crackdown-nets-5800-arrests-across-97-countries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2026\/07\/09\/interpol-cybercrime-crackdown-nets-5800-arrests-across-97-countries\/","title":{"rendered":"Interpol cybercrime crackdown nets 5,800 arrests across 97 countries"},"content":{"rendered":"