Massive Fraud Website iSpoof Taken Down After Targeting 200,000 Victims
More than 200,000 people in the UK were directly targeted by scammers using the infamous fraud website iSpoof. At its peak, nearly 20 victims were contacted every single minute. The scammers impersonated major banks including Barclays, Santander, HSBC, Lloyds, Halifax, First Direct, NatWest, Nationwide, and TSB.
International Police Crack Down in Global Operation
Scotland Yard’s Cyber Crime Unit teamed up with the National Crime Agency, the FBI, Europol, Eurojust, and the authorities in the US, Ukraine, the Netherlands, France, Australia, and Ireland to shut down the site in a major cross-border takedown. The operation, known as Operation Elaborate, started back in June 2021 and targeted an organised crime group running iSpoof.
Detective Superintendent Helen Rance of the Met’s Cyber Crime Unit: “By taking down iSpoof we have prevented further offences and stopped fraudsters targeting future victims. Our message to criminals who have used this website is we have your details and are working hard to locate you, regardless of where you are.”
How iSpoof Worked and Staggering Losses Revealed
iSpoof allowed criminals to disguise their phone numbers, making calls appear as if they came from trusted organisations like banks or tax offices. This “spoofing” tricked victims into handing over money or sensitive information such as one-time passcodes.
- Over 59,000 user accounts accessed the site, paying with Bitcoin.
- Approximately 10 million fraudulent calls were made globally in 12 months to August 2022 – 3.5 million in the UK alone.
- 350,000 calls lasted longer than a minute, targeting 200,000 UK individuals.
- Reported losses from these scams hit around £48 million, with the true cost believed to be much higher due to underreporting.
- The average victim reportedly lost about £10,000 each.
Massive Arrests and Ongoing Investigations
The Met has arrested over 100 suspects in the UK mostly on suspicion of fraud. The suspected mastermind was caught in East London earlier this month and is now in custody facing various charges.
Investigators are prioritising suspects who spent at least £100 in Bitcoin using iSpoof and are contacting over 70,000 known victims to report fraud losses and seek information.
Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley: “The exploitation of technology by organised criminals is one of the greatest challenges for law enforcement in the 21st century. By taking away the tools that enable fraudsters, this operation shows our relentless determination to protect vulnerable victims.”
Europol Executive Director Catherine De Bolle: “These arrests send a clear message to cybercriminals that international anonymity is no longer their shield.”
How You Can Protect Yourself
The Met, in partnership with UK Finance and the Cyber Defence Alliance, urges anyone who received a suspicious call or text where the number appeared spoofed to report it to Action Fraud.
Experts advise following the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign tips – pause and think before parting with personal information or money. If you suspect fraud, contact your bank immediately and report to Action Fraud.
This crackdown shows a united front between UK and international forces targeting tech-savvy criminals to halt growing fraud threats head-on.
