December 5, 2024 at 10:27AM
Europol has shut down Manson Market, a major online fraud marketplace, seizing over 50 servers and arresting two suspects. Launched in 2022, the site traded stolen data from phishing schemes. Authorities from multiple countries collaborated to dismantle the network, collecting over 200 terabytes of digital evidence.
### Meeting Takeaways – December 5, 2024
1. **Shutdown of Manson Market**: Europol announced the closure of Manson Market, a major online marketplace for fraud, as part of an operation led by German authorities.
2. **Seizures and Arrests**: Over 50 servers were seized, and two suspects were arrested—one in Germany (27 years old) and another in Austria (37 years old). Both are currently in pretrial detention.
3. **Digital Evidence Collected**: More than 200 terabytes of digital evidence related to the operation of Manson Market were gathered during the enforcement actions.
4. **Market Activity**: Manson Market, launched in 2022, specialized in selling sensitive information obtained through phishing and vishing scams. Criminal actors used strategies like impersonating bank employees to extract confidential details from victims.
5. **Data Trade**: The marketplace allowed users to purchase stolen data categorized by region and account balances, facilitating targeted fraudulent activities.
6. **Presence on Telegram**: A Telegram channel, freestuffbymanson, was identified, distributing credit card details daily, including numbers, expiration dates, and CVV codes.
7. **International Cooperation**: The operation involved collaboration between law enforcement agencies from Austria, Czechia, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland, with coordinated searches conducted across multiple countries.
8. **Related Law Enforcement Actions**: This operation occurred alongside other significant law enforcement activities, including the takedown of the Crimenetwork marketplace and the MATRIX messaging app used for various criminal activities.
9. **Follow-up**: For continuous updates on cybersecurity and fraud-related topics, follow on Twitter and LinkedIn.
This summary encapsulates the key points from the meeting regarding the impact and implications of the shutdown of Manson Market.