This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7675191.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fraudsters' website shut in swoop | Fraudsters' website shut in swoop |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A website used by criminals to buy and sell credit card details and bank log-ins has been shut down after a police operation, the BBC has learned. | A website used by criminals to buy and sell credit card details and bank log-ins has been shut down after a police operation, the BBC has learned. |
| International forum Darkmarket ran for three years and led to fraud totalling millions of pounds. | International forum Darkmarket ran for three years and led to fraud totalling millions of pounds. |
| Nearly 60 people connected with the site have been arrested in Manchester, Hull and London, as well as Germany, Turkey and the US. | Nearly 60 people connected with the site have been arrested in Manchester, Hull and London, as well as Germany, Turkey and the US. |
| The Serious Organised Crime Agency said it was "a one-stop shop" for criminals. | The Serious Organised Crime Agency said it was "a one-stop shop" for criminals. |
| Soca deputy director Sharon Lemon told the BBC that one individual had spent £250,000 on personal data in just six weeks. | Soca deputy director Sharon Lemon told the BBC that one individual had spent £250,000 on personal data in just six weeks. |
| Had he realised the full potential of the information he had, he could have obtained up to £10m, she said. | Had he realised the full potential of the information he had, he could have obtained up to £10m, she said. |
| Corporate cards | Corporate cards |
| Darkmarket was strictly invitation only and gave criminals access to a wide range of valuable personal information. | Darkmarket was strictly invitation only and gave criminals access to a wide range of valuable personal information. |
| The data held on the magnetic strip of an ordinary credit card was available to buy for as little as one pound. | The data held on the magnetic strip of an ordinary credit card was available to buy for as little as one pound. |
| Most prized were corporate credit cards belonging to frequent business travellers. These aren't geeks. These are serious and organised criminals Sharon LemonSerious Organised Crime Agency class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7675216.stm">Police stalking cyber fraudsters | |
| Ms Lemon said these were highly sought after because they could be used by criminals all over the world to spend large sums without arousing suspicion. | Ms Lemon said these were highly sought after because they could be used by criminals all over the world to spend large sums without arousing suspicion. |
| "Darkmarket is a one-stop shop for the online criminal," she said. | "Darkmarket is a one-stop shop for the online criminal," she said. |
| "You can go to the forum and engage in criminal activity quite freely. You can buy any product you want, you can sell any product you want." | "You can go to the forum and engage in criminal activity quite freely. You can buy any product you want, you can sell any product you want." |
| She stressed that online fraud of this kind was not a "victimless crime" and involved criminals of all levels of sophistication. | She stressed that online fraud of this kind was not a "victimless crime" and involved criminals of all levels of sophistication. |
| "They are taking someone else's money," she said. | "They are taking someone else's money," she said. |
| "These aren't geeks we're talking about. These are serious and organised criminals. | "These aren't geeks we're talking about. These are serious and organised criminals. |
| "And they can vary. You can be the beginner who can go onto the site, get a tutorial and start your life of crime. | "And they can vary. You can be the beginner who can go onto the site, get a tutorial and start your life of crime. |
| "Or you can get people who are fed up. [They think] Actually, Class A drugs are a bit hands-on, why do that when I can make hundreds of thousands online?" | "Or you can get people who are fed up. [They think] Actually, Class A drugs are a bit hands-on, why do that when I can make hundreds of thousands online?" |
| She said there were 2,000 users registered on Darkmarket, but many of those were not unique because one individual could go by a number of online aliases. | She said there were 2,000 users registered on Darkmarket, but many of those were not unique because one individual could go by a number of online aliases. |