The United States Justice Department has made significant strides in the fight against cybercrime by taking down PopeyeTools, a prominent online marketplace known for facilitating cybercrimes, fraud, and the sale of stolen credit card information.
According to reports, the Justice Department announced the seizure of PopeyeTools and the filing of criminal charges against three individuals believed to be the administrators of the illicit website. The accused individuals – Abdul Ghaffar, Abdul Sami, and Javed Mirza – are facing charges related to conspiracy, trafficking, and solicitation of access devices.
Nicole Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s criminal division, stated that the three men were behind a longstanding online marketplace that facilitated the sale of illegal goods and services used in cybercrimes such as ransomware attacks and financial frauds. The Justice Department’s investigation revealed that PopeyeTools had become a popular platform for cybercrime transactions since around 2016, generating over $1.7 million in revenue and compromising the personal information of at least 227,000 individuals.
PopeyeTools reportedly promised its customers “quality not quantity,” offering refunds for invalid credit card purchases and services to validate bank account and credit card information. The website also had a section dedicated to selling payment data and personally identifiable information for validated credit cards at a price of around $30 each.
Special Agent in Charge Matthew Miraglia of the FBI Buffalo field office emphasized that the dismantling of PopeyeTools was a significant achievement in the FBI’s ongoing efforts to combat cybercrime. In addition to seizing control of the platform and filing criminal charges against the alleged administrators, the U.S. also obtained judicial authorization to confiscate approximately $283,000 in cryptocurrency from an account linked to one of the accused individuals, Sami.
If convicted, Ghaffar, Sami, and Mirza could face up to 10 years in prison for each of the three access device offenses. Argentieri highlighted that the Justice Department’s actions against PopeyeTools demonstrated their comprehensive approach to fighting cybercrime, combining platform takedowns, criminal charges, and asset seizures to disrupt illicit activities and hold perpetrators accountable.
Overall, the takedown of PopeyeTools represents a significant win in the battle against cybercrime, underscoring the government’s commitment to dismantling illicit online marketplaces and prosecuting individuals involved in criminal activities on the dark web. By targeting key players in the cybercrime ecosystem and seizing their illicit gains, law enforcement agencies aim to curb the proliferation of cyber threats and protect individuals and businesses from falling victim to online criminal activities.