FBI wraps up cybercrime operation targeting global networks preying on Americans

EXCLUSIVE : A 60-day FBI operation targeting cybercriminals, online fraud, and illicit digital infrastructure resulted in numerous arrests and disrupted vast global criminal networks that preyed on Americans and laundered millions in proceeds, Fox News Digital has learned.

Operation Riptide was launched in June to combat cybercrime, which defrauded Americans out of more than $20 billion last year, according to the FBI.

With assistance from international law enforcement, the bureau seized millions in illegal cryptocurrency and other funds while dismantling cyber networks across the globe.

GLOBAL PARTNERS ARE JOINING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND THIS FBI TO TAKE DOWN SCAM EMPIRES FOR GOOD "Operation Riptide was the FBI’s historic 60-day campaign targeting cybercriminals preying on Americans here at home and around the world," FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News Digital.

"We went after this criminal enterprise more aggressively than we ever have." Patel credited several factors for the initiative's success, including the bureau's artificial intelligence technology , increased intelligence sharing, and aggressive coordination with authorities abroad.

"FBI Cyber is now built to crush these criminal networks no matter where they operate," Patel said.

Among the cases stemming from the operation was the arrest of a member of the pro-Russia hacktivist group Cyber Army of Russia Reborn, as well as the seizure of a cloud computing account used by subsidiaries of the Huione Group, a Cambodia-based corporate conglomerate.

DOJ CHARGES 3 RUSSIANS IN ALLEGED $63M CYBERCRIME SCHEME TARGETING AMERICANS The subsidiaries allegedly assisted individuals and organizations in transferring illicit proceeds from cryptocurrency investment frauds, cyber scams, and other crimes across blockchains, facilitating undetected conversions into the legitimate banking sector.

In another major operation, law enforcement coordinated with Google and Black Lotus Labs to execute a technical takedown of Outsider , a Chinese phishing-as-a-service platform.

Outsider provided cybercriminals with hosting infrastructure and "phishing kits" used to target U.S. citizens, businesses, and victims in at least 54 other countries, the FBI said. [EMBARGO] META LEADS LARGEST-EVER ANTI-SCAM OPERATION WITH FBI AND DOJ, RESULTING IN 63 ARRESTS In addition to the new arrests, several other cybercrime cases reached major legal milestones.

Eight people were convicted for participating in an international cargo theft conspiracy impacting U.S. supply chain security, while five Ghanaian citizens were indicted for allegedly operating romance fraud schemes targeting Americans online.