Authorities in Pakistan have arrested 21 individuals linked to the “Heartsender” malware service, which facilitated spam and cybercrime for over a decade, resulting in extensive financial losses. The operation, which targeted various internet companies, was identified by KrebsOnSecurity in 2021, and included notorious figures like Rameez Shahzad, the alleged ringleader. The arrests follow a series of raids conducted by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency amid ongoing investigations into transnational organized crime.

Thirteen Romanians have been arrested for their involvement in a phishing scheme targeting His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC), resulting in significant financial losses for the UK government. The operation, conducted by Romanian police in collaboration with HMRC, revealed that organized crime groups exploited stolen data to submit fraudulent tax claims and benefits. HMRC confirmed that the attacks led to a loss of £47 million for taxpayers, although there was no direct cyber attack on its systems.