The recent seizure of the PopeyeTools website by the U.S. Department of Justice has brought to light a major cybercrime operation that has been facilitating the trafficking of stolen financial information and tools for committing fraud. The site, run by three administrators – Abdul Ghaffar, Abdul Sami, and Javed Mirza – has been accused of running a multi-million-dollar cybercrime enterprise that sold stolen credit card details, bank account information, and other illicit goods to criminals worldwide.
The PopeyeTools website, which had been operating since 2016, was a hub for cybercriminals looking to purchase access devices such as stolen credit card and bank account numbers, as well as personally identifiable information (PII) for over 227,000 individuals. The site generated revenues exceeding $1.7 million from its illicit activities, offering a wide array of stolen data including “live” credit card information, bank logs, and email spam lists.
One of the notable sections of the site, “Live Fullz,” provided working credit card data for a price of around $30 per card, guaranteeing its validity for fraudulent transactions. Other sections like “Fresh Bank Logs” offered stolen banking information, scam guides, tutorials, and spam email lists to assist criminals in their fraudulent activities. Additionally, the website provided tools that allowed customers to verify the validity of stolen data and offered refunds or replacements for invalid data, establishing itself as a reliable source for cybercriminals.
The Justice Department’s actions against PopeyeTools are part of a broader effort to disrupt illegal online marketplaces that contribute to cybercrime. Working closely with international law enforcement agencies, including those from the United Kingdom and Malaysia, the U.S. government seized the domains associated with the website – http://www.PopeyeTools.com, http://www.PopeyeTools.co.uk, and http://www.PopeyeTools.to – and seized approximately $283,000 worth of cryptocurrency from an account controlled by one of the administrators, Abdul Sami.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri emphasized the department’s commitment to combatting cybercrime using all available tools. Ghaffar, Sami, and Mirza are facing serious charges with each potentially facing a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for the three access device offenses they are accused of committing. U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross for the Western District of New York commended the operation for protecting the public and disrupting an illicit marketplace that sold the credit card information and PII of hundreds of thousands of victims.
The FBI, which played a crucial role in investigating the cybercrime website, stressed the importance of dismantling cybercriminal infrastructure to reduce the threat of online fraud. Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI Cyber Division reiterated the agency’s commitment to pursuing cybercrime facilitators and their resources relentlessly.
The takedown of PopeyeTools and the charges against its administrators highlight the government’s determination to combat cybercrime and protect individuals from falling victim to fraud and identity theft. This coordinated effort involving law enforcement agencies both domestically and internationally serves as a warning to cybercriminals that illicit activities will not go unpunished.