Europol Takes Down Romanian Cyber-Crime Organized Group

The European Cybercrime Center (EC3) has taken down a cyber-crime ring based in Romania and France accused of electronic payment crimes throughout Europe, detaining 65 people and interrogating more than 100, Europol announced.

“The cybercrime network is suspected of sophisticated electronic payment crimes including intrusions into international non-cash payment systems (through malware attacks), illegal worldwide financial transactions and money transfers, card data compromising (via skimming attacks), money laundering and drug trafficking,” the press release said.

“Members of this criminal network were using malware ” RAT (Remote Access Tool) with key logger functionality – to take over and gain access to computers used by money transfer services all over Europe (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Norway, UK).”

Europol estimates that at least 2 million euros were found in cash, deposited in bank accounts as well as IT equipment and luxury vehicles.

“As a direct result of the excellent cooperation and outstanding work by police officers and prosecutors from Romania, France and other European countries, a key criminal network has been successfully taken down this week,” said Troels Oerting, head of EC3.

Romanian law enforcement, such as the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, National Police and other units, and the French Judicial Police, participated in the cyber-crime bust.