The FBI has concluded a 60-day cybercrime operation, dubbed "Operation Riptide," which successfully dismantled global criminal networks that preyed on Americans and laundered millions of dollars. The operation, launched in June, targeted online fraud schemes that defrauded Americans of more than $20 billion in the previous year.
Assisted by international law enforcement, the FBI seized millions in illegal cryptocurrency and other funds while dismantling cyber networks across the globe. FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the bureau pursued this criminal enterprise with unprecedented aggression, attributing the operation's success to advancements in artificial intelligence technology, enhanced intelligence sharing, and robust coordination with international authorities. "FBI Cyber is now built to crush these criminal networks no matter where they operate," Patel said.
Among the significant cases resulting from Operation Riptide was the arrest of a member of the pro-Russia hacktivist group Cyber Army of Russia Reborn. Additionally, a cloud computing account used by subsidiaries of the Huione Group, a Cambodia-based corporate conglomerate, was seized. These subsidiaries allegedly facilitated the transfer of illicit proceeds from cryptocurrency investment frauds and cyber scams across blockchains, enabling undetected conversions into the legitimate banking sector.
In another major action, law enforcement, in coordination with Google and Black Lotus Labs, executed a technical takedown of Outsider, a Chinese phishing-as-a-service platform. Outsider provided cybercriminals with hosting infrastructure and phishing kits used to target U.S. citizens, businesses, and victims in at least 54 other countries.
The operation also saw progress in several other cybercrime cases. Eight individuals were convicted for their roles in an international cargo theft conspiracy that impacted U.S. supply chain security. Separately, five Ghanaian citizens were indicted for allegedly operating romance fraud schemes targeting Americans online. Two individuals were sentenced to 6.5 years in prison for their involvement in a nationwide ATM jackpotting scheme that used Ploutus malware to steal millions from cash machines across the United States.
Barry Augustinsky was convicted for operating a multi-year Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)-based fraud scheme that primarily targeted elderly Americans. He was also involved in laundering the proceeds and providing false credit-report access to facilitate the scheme.
Heith Janke, assistant director of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division, highlighted the effectiveness of coordinated actions. "We executed coordinated law enforcement actions across the country and leveraged our reach around the world to disrupt these criminal networks, impose consequences, and protect the American people from predatory cyber actors," Janke said.
Retired FBI agent Scott Augenbaum noted that emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, are lowering the barrier to entry for cybercriminals. "Artificial intelligence is enhancing the cybercriminals' ability to trick people," Augenbaum explained. "Today, you're going to see an email that does not contain grammatical errors. We used to tell people if the email has really bad grammar, it's a scam. That red flag doesn't work anymore. Cybercriminals can build fake websites, use voice cloning, and leverage so many new tools."
Brett Leatherman, assistant director of the FBI's Cyber Division, emphasized the bureau's commitment to sustained pressure against international networks. "Cybercriminals depend on borders, anonymity, and rented infrastructure to stay beyond reach, and over 60 days, the FBI and our partners took those advantages away," Leatherman stated. "Arrests, extraditions, infrastructure takedowns, and seizures each imposed cost at a different point in the criminal ecosystem. Our partners made that possible, and the pressure we built does not stop here."