Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

Six arrests in international fraud call investigation

Six arrests in international fraud call investigation

Gardaí arrested six people as part of an international investigation into a website which enabled fraudsters to make phone calls from trusted numbers to commit cybercrime.
The website iSpoof.cc was taken down earlier this month but is believed to have been used by 21,000 fraudsters worldwide.

Searches were also carried out in Dublin, Meath and Louth as part of an investigation involving law enforcement agencies in the US, the UK, Australia, Canada and Europe.

Fraudsters paid to gain access to the website which made automated phone calls and sent texts which appeared to come from trusted and recognised numbers such as the HSE or An Garda Síochána.

If people then pressed on a number or a link they were drawn into a fraud where their personal information was gathered and money stolen.

In the 12 months up to August this year, around 10 million fraudulent calls were made from the website.

It is estimated victims worldwide lost over €115m.

Operation Elaborate is a global law enforcement investigation into a type of cybercrime known as spoofing.

In Ireland, gardaí searched 17 places in Kildare, Meath and Dublin and arrested six people.

They also identified 64 suspect accounts and seized 132 phones, tablets, computers and other electronic devices.

Assistant Commissioner Paul Cleary said this is just the start of a significant investigation by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau which will bring those involved here before the courts.

Europol's Executive Director Ms Catherine De Bolle said the arrests send a message to cybercriminals that they can "no longer hide behind perceived international anonymity".

"Together with our international partners, we will continue to relentlessly push the envelope to bring criminals to justice," she said.

Detective Inspector with the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau Mel Smyth said an estimated €115m was lost worldwide as a result of the iSpoof website.

Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Smyth said that around €50m was lost in the UK and while the exact amount lost in Ireland is unknown, it did run into the millions.

He said more searches will be carried out in Ireland and more people will be arrested.

Mr Smyth urged people to be wary of unsolicited texts and calls and to use banking apps, rather than clicking on a link to enter bank account details.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
×