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Dominican Republic Dismantles Transnational Cybercrime Network, Seizes $400,000

A Major Blow to Transnational Cybercrime

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - In a significant operation against transnational cybercrime, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Agency (FCA) in the Dominican Republic has dismantled a network believed to have defrauded hundreds of US citizens out of more than $200 million.

The Operation

The operation, dubbed “Discovery”, was carried out by hundreds of law enforcement officials on March 2, after a year-long investigation into a criminal network that allegedly used economic and sexual extortion, identity theft, and other schemes to extract money from victims. The investigation led to the arrest of around 70 people in call centers in Santiago, Santo Domingo, La Vega, and Puerto Plata.

Seized Assets

Authorities seized:

• $400,000
• Over 19 million Dominican pesos ($350,000)
• Up to 30 luxury vehicles
• Hundreds of electronic devices
• A number of firearms

US agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) carried out simultaneous raids in New York City, but have yet to release any information on those operations.

Schemes Used by the Criminal Network

The criminal group used various identity theft schemes to extract money from victims. These included:

• Caller-ID spoofing services to fake their identity and demand extortion payments from individuals after threatening to kidnap family members.
• Targeting people who had prescriptions for highly controlled drugs and medications, offering them medicine without a doctor’s prescription, and then demanding payment to avoid prosecution.

Money Laundering

To launder their extortion proceeds, the network allegedly used:

• Cryptocurrencies
• Deposits through remittance companies
• Fraudulent money transfers

Estimated Losses

The Attorney General’s Office estimated that the cybercrime network moved around $250 million.

Rise of Cybercrime in the Caribbean

The dismantling of this transnational cybercrime network highlights two important points: a continued crackdown on organized crime in the Dominican Republic, and the rise in fraud schemes based in the Caribbean.

Cybercrime Statistics

• Cybercrime has increased considerably since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Prosecutor Marineldy Peña Hernández estimates that it has become more lucrative than drug trafficking in some cases.
• The pandemic also saw a surge in “sextortion,” where victims send compromising photos to others who then demand payment in exchange for not releasing them publicly.

Government Efforts

The Dominican Republic has established laws and regulations aimed at fighting cybercrime, with a special prosecutor’s office created in 2013 to focus on cybercrimes such as card cloning, phishing scams, and identity theft. Since coming to power in August 2020, President Abinader has prioritized the fight against corruption and organized crime.

Global Concerns

The rise of cybercrime is a global concern, with numerous countries passing legislation to combat it. In a recent meeting between Caribbean Community security ministers, Caricom Secretary General Carla Barret listed cybercrime as the third-largest security concern behind the situation in Haiti and human smuggling.

Conclusion

The dismantling of this transnational cybercrime network by the FCA in the Dominican Republic is a significant blow to organized crime, but highlights the ongoing challenges posed by cybercrime in the Caribbean.