The following is a machine translation of a press release from the Dutch Politie:
Hundreds of (possible) buyers of stolen data have received a letter or email from the East Netherlands police, and people are also invited for a stop interview.
This approach is a follow-up to an investigation from 2022. In May of that year, the police, in collaboration with the Belgian police and the FBI, arrested a main suspect in an investigation into the online sale of stolen privacy data and the facilitation of DDoS attacks for payment. After the arrest of the Belgian suspect, the East Netherlands police continued to investigate the (possible) recipients of the stolen data.
400 people will be notified
The investigation focused on the Dutch users of WELEAKINFO.TO, but above all on visitors with a (paid) account who may have received or had access to privacy-sensitive information that was stolen through a crime. Various cybercrime offenses can be committed with these personal data, such as computer trespassing or banking fraud.
About 400 Dutch users emerged in the study. Many have received a letter/email warning that having stolen data or trading that privacy data is a punishable offense. This message is also shared in a so-called stop conversation.
Approach aimed at preventing further offending
The approach in which (possible) customers are approached by the police is aimed at removing users from anonymity. With this, the police want to send a clear signal that criminal offenses committed online are also visible. The letters or emails contain a clear call to stop the activities and a warning of the consequences it may have if you commit or continue to commit online crime.
Revenue model
Data captured in data breaches is worth gold to criminals. Many online crimes can be committed using data such as name, dates of birth, bank account numbers, etc. For example, the data is searched very specifically for a specific target group in order to create victims there. Millions are made in the resulting crime. By approaching users and potential customers, the police want to prevent them from taking further steps on the criminal path.
Tackling online crime
Tackling cybercrime and digitalized crime has a high priority within the police and the Public Prosecution Service. The focus is also on prevention of both victims and perpetrators. We are also committed to disrupting criminal processes and tracking down cyber criminals.