Man
Professional
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Among the detainees was a ghost without a residence permit and with great connections.
Dutch law enforcement agencies conducted a series of raids and arrested four people suspected of selling personal data through Telegram groups. During the operation, data storage devices and firearms were seized. The investigation is aimed at suppressing the illegal circulation of data related to fraud and identity theft.
Among the detainees are a 26-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman from Leeuwarden, a 28-year-old man from Maarssen and a 31-year-old man without a permanent residence. According to police, the detainees were selling personal data, including names, dates of birth, bank details and addresses obtained as a result of hacks or leaks from companies.
Police warn that such data is used to deceive citizens: attackers often impersonate bank employees or target vulnerable people such as elderly citizens.
During the raids, law enforcement officers found three firearms. The investigation is ongoing, with a particular focus on identifying the sources of the data breach. Police also said more arrests were possible as monitoring of Telegram groups continued.
To strengthen their presence on Telegram, the police leave messages in public and private groups, warning about the consequences of illegal data trafficking. One of the messages reads: "We may have already noticed your nickname - see you soon!"
This operation coincided with a difficult situation for Telegram after the arrest of its founder Pavel Durov in France in August 2024. Telegram, known for its attention to privacy, changed its privacy policy in September, starting to provide users' IP addresses and phone numbers when requested by authorities.
These changes caused controversy among users. Part of the audience accepted the innovation as a step in the fight against serious crimes, such as data leaks and child exploitation. However, journalists, human rights activists and other users who value anonymity have begun to look for more secure platforms, fearing for their privacy.
Source
Dutch law enforcement agencies conducted a series of raids and arrested four people suspected of selling personal data through Telegram groups. During the operation, data storage devices and firearms were seized. The investigation is aimed at suppressing the illegal circulation of data related to fraud and identity theft.
Among the detainees are a 26-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman from Leeuwarden, a 28-year-old man from Maarssen and a 31-year-old man without a permanent residence. According to police, the detainees were selling personal data, including names, dates of birth, bank details and addresses obtained as a result of hacks or leaks from companies.
Police warn that such data is used to deceive citizens: attackers often impersonate bank employees or target vulnerable people such as elderly citizens.
During the raids, law enforcement officers found three firearms. The investigation is ongoing, with a particular focus on identifying the sources of the data breach. Police also said more arrests were possible as monitoring of Telegram groups continued.
To strengthen their presence on Telegram, the police leave messages in public and private groups, warning about the consequences of illegal data trafficking. One of the messages reads: "We may have already noticed your nickname - see you soon!"
This operation coincided with a difficult situation for Telegram after the arrest of its founder Pavel Durov in France in August 2024. Telegram, known for its attention to privacy, changed its privacy policy in September, starting to provide users' IP addresses and phone numbers when requested by authorities.
These changes caused controversy among users. Part of the audience accepted the innovation as a step in the fight against serious crimes, such as data leaks and child exploitation. However, journalists, human rights activists and other users who value anonymity have begun to look for more secure platforms, fearing for their privacy.
Source
