Crackdown on cybercrime sees three people arrested in Rochdale

Three people have been arrested on suspicion of fraud, following a joint operation in Rochdale on Wednesday morning (28 November).

The operation, led by the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit, involved more than 30 officers and saw Greater Manchester Police Town centre, Milkstone & Deeplish neighbourhood team, the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (Titan) and the National Crime Agency work alongside the unit to tackle cybercrime and the subsequent fraud offences that often follow.

Four warrants were carried out simultaneously across four addresses at 7am this morning in Rochdale at Kensington Street, Lloyd Street, Clifford Street and Baron Street.

Three men aged 25, 35 and 36 have been arrested on suspicion of Fraud by False Representation contrary to the Fraud Act 2006 and on suspicion of Section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

The offences took place between 2014 and 2018 where stolen bank card details, obtained from the dark web, were used to place large and high-value orders over the phone with small and medium-sized companies.

Goods were then collected via unsuspecting courier and taken to drop-off locations in Rochdale. The couriers are met by a person and taken to another drop-off location, or the goods are transferred into another van.

The arrested men all remain in police custody.

Inspector Callaghan from Greater Manchester Police commented: “We are pleased to offer support to SEROCU’s Cyber Crime Unit and the NCA to facilitate their investigation into this large-scale fraud offence.

“Fraud is often seen as a victimless crime when financial institutions are targeted. On this occasion, a number of small and medium-sized businesses had resulted in severe financial difficulty for businesses who employ members of the community.”

Detective Inspector Rob Bryant from SEROCU's Cyber Crime Unit, which led the investigation, said: “Today’s day of action would not have been possible without the support from various agencies including Greater Manchester Police, Titan and the NCA.

“Today’s action is a result of months of investigative work into cybercrime and the fraud offence which often follow. This organised crime group had purchased people’s data off the dark web and were using it to commit large scale fraud.

"They would use the details they had obtained illegally to purchase large orders of goods, such as car tyres, copper piping, paint and ride-on mowers and have them delivered to discreet locations by innocent couriers, where they would go and collect them from.

“We often see companies which have their data stolen end up on the dark web and opportunist criminals look to benefit. I would like to take this opportunity to remind all businesses around their obligations to customers in protecting their data from cyber criminals.

“In this case, thanks to the multi-agency approach and help from our partners, we have managed to stop an organised crime, which in 2018 had committed nearly 300 fraud offences at a cost of over a million pounds.”

Phil Larratt from the National Crime Agency said: “Following a UK data breach, a South East ROCU-led investigation identified an organised crime group (OCG) responsible for using stolen payment card data to purchase over a million pounds worth of goods.

“The NCA will continue to work closely with our police colleagues to relentlessly pursue those responsible for both cyber dependent criminality and the subsequent incidents of fraud linked to the original data theft.

“Today’s action demonstrates that cyber criminality has no boundaries and UK law enforcement will continue to work together to disrupt this type of criminality.”

Anyone with information or concerns regarding fraud-related offences or information to pass this can be done through contacting Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040.