33,000 fraudulent websites dismantled: Interpol's global offensive against cybercriminals

Faced with the rise of cyber threats, law enforcement agencies are increasing coordinated initiatives at the European level, as in last October, or internationally.

The latest example is a large-scale operation led by Interpol, which illustrates the transformation of strategies for combating digital fraud. Behind these actions, the objective is to sustainably disrupt the increasingly sophisticated infrastructure used by cybercriminals…

A coordinated offensive in 72 countries

Dubbed “Operation Synergia III,” this international campaign took place between July 2025 and January 2026. It mobilized law enforcement agencies from 72 countries, including France, as well as several private cybersecurity companies such as Trend Micro and Group-IB.

The results are significant, including more than 33,000 fraudulent websites dismantled and 45,000 malicious IP addresses neutralized. These messages were redirected to servers controlled by the authorities, allowing the communication between the cybercriminals and their infrastructure to be severed. The operation also led to 94 arrests worldwide, while 110 suspects remain under investigation. In total, 212 electronic devices and servers were seized, illustrating the central role of technical infrastructure in online illegal activities.

Phishing, fake casinos and romance scams…

As the Interpol press release specifies, the activities targeted by this operation cover a broad spectrum of cybercrime. Among the main schemes dismantled were phishing sites that mimicked online banks, government websites, or payment platforms, as well as numerous fake online casinos. Investigators also put an end to more insidious scam networks, such as romance scams and sexual blackmail. These methods often rely on social engineering, where cybercriminals steal identities or hack accounts to manipulate their victims and obtain money transfers.

Other frauds, such as employment scams, loan scams, identity theft, and credit card fraud, were also among the targets of the operation.

Increasingly sophisticated networks…

According to Interpol, cybercrime has now reached an unprecedented level of complexity, both in its techniques and its organization. This development is pushing authorities to strengthen international collaborations and partnerships with the private sector. A previous operation, "Synergia II," conducted in 2024, had already neutralized more than 1,000 servers linked to criminal activities. More recently, several actions have also targeted networks based in Africa, resulting in more than 650 arrests between the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026. This new offensive therefore confirms a fundamental trend, where the fight against cybercrime relies on a comprehensive approach, including intelligence, cross-border cooperation, and technological expertise.