Biggest Darkweb Platform Genesis Market Closed, 120 Arrested In Joint Raids

Law enforcement agencies across the world have successfully shut down Genesis Market, one of the largest online marketplaces for criminal activity. The website, which sold login details, IP addresses, and other data, enabled fraudsters to access bank and shopping accounts. Often costing less than $1, this personal information made up victims’ “digital fingerprints.”

The operation, known as “Operation Cookie Monster,” was led by the FBI in the US and the Dutch National Police, working alongside the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), the Australian Federal Police, and countries across Europe. The raids involved law enforcement agencies from 17 countries, with 200 searches carried out and 120 people arrested globally.

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What is Genesis Market

Genesis Market was one of the largest online marketplaces for criminal activity, which was used by online fraudsters to buy and sell login details, IP addresses, and other personal data. This personal information made up victims’ “digital fingerprints” and enabled fraudsters to access bank and shopping accounts. The website had 80 million sets of credentials and digital fingerprints up for sale, with prices often costing less than $1.

Trouble Caused By Genesis Market

The problem caused by Genesis Market was that it facilitated financial fraud and cybercrime on a massive scale. Criminals could easily buy personal data of innocent individuals, use it to access their online accounts, and steal their money or commit other illegal activities. This caused significant financial losses and emotional distress for the victims. The closure of Genesis Market is a significant victory for law enforcement agencies worldwide, who are determined to tackle online crime and protect the public from financial fraud.

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Crackdown

The UK’s NCA arrested 24 people who are suspected users of the site, including two men aged 34 and 36 in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, who are being held on suspicion of fraud and computer misuse. The NCA called Genesis Market “an enormous enabler of fraud,” with the website having 80 million sets of credentials and digital fingerprints up for sale.

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The successful operation was welcomed by Robert Jones, director general of the National Economic Crime Centre at the NCA. “For too long, criminals have stolen credentials from innocent members of the public. We now want criminals to be afraid that we have their credentials, and they should be,” he said.

Genesis Market’s website was replaced on Wednesday with a message stating that the website had been seized. The global crackdown demonstrates the determination of law enforcement agencies worldwide to tackle online crime and protect the public from financial fraud.

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