Interpol arrests over 5,800 suspects in international operation against fraudsters

Interpol has completed a large-scale international operation “First World 2026”, aimed at combating fraud using social engineering and money laundering. As a result of joint actions of law enforcement agencies in different countries, 5,811 suspects were arrested.

The operation lasted from January 15 to April 30, 2026 and covered 97 countries around the world. The results of the international initiative were reported by the Interpol press service.

More than 142 thousand people became victims of fraudulent schemes

During the operation, analysts processed 152,808 cases related to various types of financial and digital fraud.

As a result, law enforcement agencies identified more than 142 thousand victims in 97 countries.

Joint measures allowed to reveal 23,715 criminal episodes and identify 15,606 suspects, who are linked to the activities of international criminal schemes.

In total, during the operation, law enforcement officers arrested 5,811 suspects.

Over 31,000 bank accounts were blocked

One of the key tools of the international operation was the Global Rapid Intervention Mechanism for Payments (I-GRIP).

The system allows law enforcement agencies of different countries to quickly exchange information and respond to suspicious international financial transactions.

With the help of I-GRIP, 31,014 bank accounts were blocked during the operation.

Law enforcement officers also seized assets totaling $293 million.

Over $122 million in money laundering was uncovered in Thailand

Interpol gave a number of examples of the effectiveness of international cooperation.

In particular, in Eswatini, law enforcement officers detained 82 people. They are suspected of illegal activities in the iGaming sector, legalization of criminal proceeds and fraud with forged documents.

In Thailand, law enforcement officers exposed two suspects in large-scale money laundering. According to the investigation, in just ten months, about $122.5 million passed through the bank accounts associated with them.

A transaction worth $6.6 million was blocked after an email fraud

Another large-scale episode was investigated by law enforcement agencies in Singapore and Oman.

Thanks to international coordination, a transaction worth $6.6 million related to an email fraud scheme was blocked.

These are social engineering schemes, during which attackers mislead victims and force them to independently transfer funds to accounts controlled by criminals.

The operation was supported by Europol and regional law enforcement agencies

The international operation received financial support from the Ministry of Public Security of China.

ASEANAPOL, GCCPOL and Europol also provided assistance in coordinating joint activities.

The participation of law enforcement agencies from 97 countries allowed for the rapid exchange of information on suspects, bank accounts and international financial transactions.

As a result of the operation, Interpol managed to identify more than 142 thousand victims of fraud, block tens of thousands of bank accounts and seize assets worth $ 293 million.

The results of the international operation once again demonstrate the scale of cross-border financial and digital fraud, to counteract which law enforcement agencies are increasingly using mechanisms for the rapid blocking of international payments and the exchange of financial information.