Met Arrests Three On London Phishing Trip

Three men have been arrested in London following an investigation into a massive phishing operation.

The Met’s Central e-Crime Unit (PCeU) and the cyber side of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) pounced on three suspects at a central London hotel yesterday evening, arresting them on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and money laundering.

The two crime-fighting agencies have been looking into reports that over 2000 phishing pages were put up on the Internet in a bid to ensnare online banking users. A large number of logins were taken and used to access bank accounts, before money was siphoned off.

One Nigerian and two Romanian nationals were apprehended, whilst computers have been seized to be examined by officers. Additional searches are taking place in London and the Midlands.

Phishing for crooks

“This is the first joint operation between the PCeU and SOCA Cyber as we move towards full integration and inception of the National Cyber Crime Unit on 1 October 2013,” said Detective Superintendent Charlie McMurdie, head of the PCeU.

“The dynamic nature and successful outcome of this operation, which has prevented distress and financial loss to numerous UK victims, clearly demonstrates the benefit of brigading resources and expertise in this increasing and specialist area of criminality.”

McMurdie told TechWeekEurope earlier this year that the PCeU was punching above its weight. When asked whether the body could do with better funding from the government, over the £30 million it was promised from the Coalition’s £650 million cyber crime pot, she said more may come when it is rolled into the National Crime Agency.

The PCeU has had some major successes, particularly against phishers. In March, it arrested 14 people suspected of carrying out a phishing operation, which robbed one woman £1 million.

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