International law enforcement agencies have dismantled one of the internet's largest cybercrime marketplaces after a coordinated operation spanning 14 countries targeted the notorious hacking forum known as LeakBase.
Authorities announced the takedown following a sweeping crackdown led by the US Department of Justice and supported by international partners, includingEuropoland multiple national police forces. The operation struck a significant blow against a major online hub used by cybercriminals to trade stolen personal data, financial records, and hacking tools.
According to the US Justice Department, investigators seized the LeakBase database and two of the domains used to operate the forum as part of coordinated actions carried out on March 3 and 4. The effort involved law enforcement agents across 14 countries, working together through an operation hosted by Europol in The Hague.
LeakBase had emerged as one of the world's largest cybercrime forums, with more than 142,000 registered members exchanging information about stolen databases, hacking services, and illicit digital tools.
Officials said the platform operated openly on the web and served as a marketplace for cybercriminals to buy and sell vast quantities of compromised information. The forum reportedly contained extensive archives of hacked databases linked to major breaches involving both individuals and corporations.
Authorities replaced the forum's pages with official seizure banners, signalling that the platform had been taken offline by law enforcement.
Investigators say LeakBase facilitated the trade of highly sensitive information, including credit and debit card numbers, bank account details, passwords, and login credentials.
These records often originated from large-scalecyberattacksor data breaches, enabling criminals to carry out identity theft, fraud, and further cyber intrusions.
In a statement announcing the crackdown, US officials warned that the forum played a key role in enabling digital crime worldwide.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva said the operation disrupted a major online infrastructure for cybercrime,statingthat the takedown targeted 'a major international platform that cybercriminals use to obtain and profit from the theft of sensitive personal, banking, and account credentials.'
Source: International Business Times UK
