$3.7M seized, 281 arrested in coordinated BEC operation

by NAFCU Newsroom

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced this week that the U.S., in conjunction with international law enforcement authorities, disrupted a series of business email compromise (BEC) schemes that were designed to intercept and hijack wire transfers from businesses and individuals.

As a result of “Operation reWired,” $3.7 million was seized and 281 arrests were made.

“The Department of Justice has increased efforts in taking aggressive enforcement action against fraudsters who are targeting American citizens and their businesses in business email compromise schemes and other cyber-enabled financial crimes,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen in a statement.

“Through Operation reWired, we’re sending a clear message to the criminals who orchestrate these BEC schemes: We’ll keep coming after you, no matter where you are,” added FBI Director Christopher A. Wray.  “And to the public, we’ll keep doing whatever we can to protect you.  Reporting incidents of BEC and other internet-enabled crimes to the IC3 brings us one step closer to the perpetrators.”

 

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