INTERPOL Operation HAECHI V – Arrests 5,500 Scammers in 40 Countries
INTERPOL Financial Crime Operation HAECHI V Makes Record 5,500 Arrests, Seizures Worth over USD $400 million
Primary Category: Crimes and Criminals
Authors:
• SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• Portion by Interpol
About This Article
Operation HAECHI V, an extensive five-month initiative led by INTERPOL, brought together law enforcement from 40 countries to combat cyber-enabled financial crimes.
The operation, targeting frauds such as voice phishing, romance scams, and investment fraud, resulted in over 5,500 arrests and the seizure of more than USD 400 million in assets.
Notable achievements included dismantling a South Korean voice phishing syndicate responsible for USD 1.1 billion in losses and exposing a cryptocurrency fraud involving stablecoins.
With enhanced tools like I-GRIP to intercept illicit funds, the operation showcased the power of international cooperation in mitigating financial crimes and protecting victims.
INTERPOL Financial Crime Operation HAECHI V Makes Record 5,500 Arrests, Seizures Worth over USD $400 million
Joint operation investigated thousands of cyber-enabled scams on five continents
LYON, France – A global operation involving law enforcement from 40 countries, territories and regions has ended with the arrest of over 5,500 financial crime suspects and the seizure of more than USD 400 million in virtual assets and government-backed currencies.
The five-month Operation HAECHI V (July – November 2024) targeted seven types of cyber-enabled frauds: voice phishing, romance scams, online sextortion, investment fraud, illegal online gambling, business email compromise fraud, and e-commerce fraud.
As part of the operation, Korean authorities, in tandem with authorities in Beijing successfully dismantled a sprawling voice phishing syndicate responsible for financial losses totaling 1,511 billion KRW (USD 1.1 billion) and affecting over 1,900 victims. The organization’s sophisticated modus operandi included masquerading as law enforcement officials and using counterfeit identification. The operation led to the arrest of at least 27 members of the organized criminal group, with 19 individuals subsequently indicted.
INTERPOL also issued a Purple Notice during Operation HAECHI V to warn countries about an emerging cryptocurrency fraud practice involving stablecoin. Member countries were alerted to the “USDT Token Approval Scam” which allows fraudsters to access and control victims’ cryptocurrency wallets. The two-step approach first lures in victims using romance baiting techniques, instructing them to buy popular Tether stablecoins (USDT Tokens) via a legitimate platform. Once the scammers have gained their trust, the victims are provided with a phishing link claiming to allow them to set up their investment accounts. In reality, by clicking they authorize full access to the scammers, who can then transfer funds out of their wallet without the victim’s knowledge.
INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said:
“The effects of cyber-enabled crime can be devastating – people losing their life savings, businesses crippled, and trust in digital and financial systems undermined.
“The borderless nature of cybercrime means international police cooperation is essential, and the success of this operation supported by INTERPOL shows what results can be achieved when countries work together. It’s only through united efforts that we can make the real and digital worlds safer.”
LEE Jun Hyeong, Head of Korea’s INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Seoul said:
“Colleagues here in Korea and across police forces worldwide have demonstrated outstanding dedication and professionalism during Operation HAECHI V. Our efforts not only brought criminals to justice but also achieved significant progress in intercepting and recovering illicit funds. We will continue to contribute to ensuring a swift and effective response to cyber-enabled financial crimes.”
Now in its fifth year, HAECHI V built on previous successes, almost doubling the number of cases solved (8,309) and tripling the number of virtual asset service provider (VASP) accounts blocked (1,023) compared to 2023.
I-GRIP helps stop fraud fast
In parallel with the operation, financial crime specialists from INTERPOL worked with police investigators and financial institutions in over 80 countries to strengthen use of INTERPOL’s Global Rapid Intervention of Payments (I-GRIP). This stop-payment mechanism helps countries work together to rapidly intercept stolen funds and played an instrumental part in Operation HAECHI V.
In one major I-GRIP-enabled win, the Singapore Police Force used the tool to rapidly request assistance from authorities in Timor Leste when a commodity firm in Singapore fell victim to a business email compromise fraud. The firm was tricked into transferring USD 42.3 million to a fake supplier’s bank account in Timor Leste, where authorities were able to intercept USD 39.3 million in the bank account. A total of seven suspects were arrested and further investigations also led to the recovery of an additional USD 2.6 million, as well as the discovery that part of the illicit funds had already been transferred from Timor Leste to Indonesia. Further investigations by the three jurisdictions are being coordinated by INTERPOL and steps are being taken to return the stolen funds to the victim in Singapore.
In Guernsey, United Kingdom, an I-GRIP awareness session led directly to a significant breakthrough. Immediately after the session, the Guernsey Financial Intelligence Unit worked with UK authorities to submit an I-GRIP request to Portugal seeking to intercept over GBP 2 million (USD 2.5 million) in funds arising from business email compromise fraud. Rapid communication with Portuguese police authorities via I-GRIP meant the money was intercepted and subsequently returned to the victim in full.
HAECHI Operations Were Supported Financially by Korea, and these Participating Countries
HAECHI V participating countries, territories and regions: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands (UK), China, France, Ghana, Hong Kong (China), India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Liechtenstein, Macao (China), Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Timor Leste, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam.
Please Rate This Article
Please Leave Us Your Comment
Also, tell us of any topics we might have missed.
Thank you for your comment. You may receive an email to follow up. We never share your data with marketers.
Recent Reader Comments
on The Scam Victims Need To Feel Special And How Scammers Exploit This Vulnerability – 2024: “Well, now I know how I got involved. That little girl inside me needing love, was what the criminals “saw”…” Jan 12, 17:14
on Trust: Romance Scams Betrayal And Scam Victims – 2024: “Now that you understand how seriously it can affect you, why don’t you allow others to help you properly. You…” Jan 11, 21:07
on Trust: Romance Scams Betrayal And Scam Victims – 2024: “After having been through this process, for me I can say the further i research the angrier I get, these…” Jan 11, 14:15
on The Suffering of Job and How This Applies to Scam Victims – 2025: “The story of Job is one of the more uplifting stories there is. Resilience, patience and faith can make a…” Jan 9, 19:30
on Theory of Capabilities and Scam Victims – 2025: “Excellent article. Important advice to victims of fraud not to be just passive recipients of the help they receive, but…” Jan 6, 10:37
on Advocates, Saviors, and Haters – Oh My – How People Respond Rightly or Wrongly to Injustice – 2025: “I’m making the transition from the old self to not quite all the way new self. It is uncomfortable and…” Jan 4, 18:36
on Dark Tetrad Personality Types (Narcissism, Machiavellianism, Psychopathy, and Sadism) and Scams, Fraud, and Cybercrime – 2024: “Oltre alla popolazione andrebbero spiegate anche alle forze dell’ordine queste considerazioni. In tal modo se la vittima va a denunciare…” Dec 19, 19:02
Did you find this article useful?
If you did, please help the SCARS Institute to continue helping Scam Victims to become Survivors.
Your gift helps us continue our work and help more scam victims to find the path to recovery!
You can give at donate.AgainstScams.org
Important Information for New Scam Victims
- Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
- SCARS Institute now offers a free recovery program at www.SCARSeducation.org
- Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery
If you are looking for local trauma counselors please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org or join SCARS for our counseling/therapy benefit: membership.AgainstScams.org
If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
SCARS Resources:
- Getting Started: ScamVictimsSupport.org
- FREE enrollment in the SCARS Institute training programs for scam victims SCARSeducation.org
- For New Victims of Relationship Scams newvictim.AgainstScams.org
- Subscribe to SCARS Newsletter newsletter.againstscams.org
- Sign up for SCARS professional support & recovery groups, visit support.AgainstScams.org
- Find competent trauma counselors or therapists, visit counseling.AgainstScams.org
- Become a SCARS Member and get free counseling benefits, visit membership.AgainstScams.org
- Report each and every crime, learn how to at reporting.AgainstScams.org
- Learn more about Scams & Scammers at RomanceScamsNOW.com and ScamsNOW.com
- Learn more about the Psychology of Scams and Scam Victims: ScamPsychology.org
- Self-Help Books for Scam Victims are at shop.AgainstScams.org
- Worldwide Crisis Hotlines: International Suicide Hotlines – OpenCounseling : OpenCounseling
- Campaign To End Scam Victim Blaming – 2024 (scamsnow.com)
-/ 30 /-
What do you think about this?
Please share your thoughts in a comment below!
Leave a Reply