Operation Leak - FBI and Europol Dismantle LeakBase Cybercrime Forum
Operation Leak: A Major Crackdown on Cybercrime 🚨
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has successfully seized the LeakBase cybercrime forum in an international operation led by Europol. This initiative, known as “Operation Leak,” involved authorities from 14 countries working together to take control of the forum’s domains and post seizure notices.
Active since 2021, LeakBase became a significant hub in the cybercrime ecosystem, specializing in trading leaked databases and credentials stolen by infostealer malware. The forum operated openly in English, combining marketplace and discussion features, allowing cybercriminals to buy, sell, and exchange compromised data.
According to Europol, by December 2025, LeakBase had over 142,000 registered users, approximately 32,000 posts, and more than 215,000 private messages, showcasing its scale and global reach.
On March 3, law enforcement agencies executed coordinated actions worldwide, including arrests and house searches targeting the 37 most active users of the LeakBase forum. The following day, they seized the platform’s domain and replaced it with a law enforcement notice, marking the start of the disruption phase.
Europol played a crucial role in mapping the forum’s infrastructure and analyzing user activity, linking suspects, victims, and evidence across borders. Specialists at Europol’s headquarters in The Hague examined seized data and generated investigative leads.
Authorities also seized the LeakBase database, enabling investigators to deanonymize multiple users who thought they were operating anonymously. Officers contacted suspects through the same online channels used for criminal activity, sending a clear warning that online anonymity is limited.
The operation underscores the importance of strong passwords and multi-factor authentication, as stolen data from breaches often resurfaces on cybercrime forums, fueling scams, identity theft, account takeovers, and phishing.
Authorities from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Greece, Kosovo, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States participated in this investigation. Edvardas Šileris, Head of Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre, stated, “This operation shows that no corner of the internet is beyond the reach of international law enforcement. What began as a shadowy forum for stolen data has now been dismantled, and those who believed they could hide behind anonymity are being identified and held accountable. This is a clear message to cybercriminals everywhere: if you traffic in other people’s stolen information, law enforcement will find you and bring you to justice.”
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