• A new Global Fraud Taskforce, launched to dismantle transnational fraud networks targeting victims worldwide
  • UK drives international action to go after scammers at the UK led Global Fraud Summit, hosted by the United Nations in Vienna on 16-17 March, with more than 100 countries and 300 industry leaders in attendance
  • First-of-its-kind partnership between 5EYES and tech giants also agreed to stop fraud at source

Fraudsters targeting the British public will be hunted down by a new INTERPOL Global Taskforce, launched at the Global Fraud Summit.

Codenamed Operation Shadow Storm, the new taskforce will combine the intelligence powers of INTERPOL’s 196 member countries to take the fight directly to fraudsters. Jointly developed by the UK and INTERPOL, the new unit will target the scam compounds driving a growing share of global fraud, with an initial focus on dismantling criminal operations across South East Asia.

It comes as the UK led the convening of 40 ministers, over 100 countries and 300 industry leaders at the Global Fraud Summit in Vienna to drive action against fraud, in response to new figures showing that over two thirds of scams targeting the British public originate from abroad.

Working across borders, investigators will pool intelligence to trace where fraudsters are operating from and the bank accounts, crypto wallets, phone numbers and social media profiles they use. Under INTERPOL coordination, law enforcement agencies will move quickly to disrupt operations at source – freezing bank accounts, shutting down communication channels and carrying out coordinated raids to bring scam networks to justice.

The Summit brings together governments, law enforcement, banks and tech giants to strengthen global cooperation to tackle fraud, as criminals increasingly exploit online platforms to target victims worldwide. 

A partnership between governments and major tech firms was also signed to drive the global response to fraud online. Signatories pledged to share more intelligence to better identify and act on emerging threats and coordinate to disrupt scammers operations before they reach victims. Those signed up include G7 countries, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Meta, Google, Amazon, Match Group, VMO2 Media and International Banking Federation.

Nick Sharp, Deputy Director of the National Economic Crime Centre at the National Crime Agency, said:

“The Global Fraud Taskforce is an exciting and important step forward in our fight to tackle transnational fraud networks on a global scale. It will provide a platform for multilateral cooperation with law enforcement around the world to better target suspects and build on our strong public and private sector relationships to disrupt money flows and stop fraudsters in their tracks.

“As these criminals continue to grow in sophistication and across borders, it Is important law enforcement and industry works together to fight this threat and protect the public.”

John Brandolino, UNODC Acting Executive Director said:

“Today, we are facing a very different kind of fraud; one that is sophisticated, organised, and perpetrated across borders with breathtaking speed. We are seeing a global criminal ecosystem that requires different skillsets and expertise to address – from tech companies, banks, private sector stakeholders and governments – all of them with a role to play.”