The police have identified 126 Dutch users on Cracked.io, a hackers website where cybercriminals traded in leaked personal data of victims. Software was also sold that could be used to hack computers or commit bank helpdesk fraud.
The site was already taken offline by Europol. In doing so, as much user data as possible was secured. The criminal offenses of all identified users have been mapped. Some have been previously convicted or appear in ongoing investigations, the police write.
Young users were particularly active on the hackers site: the average age was twenty years. The youngest person to emerge in the investigations is only eleven years old.
Last week, a large number of users received a personal letter or email from the police. In addition, about twenty stop conversations were held, in which it was urgently requested to stop the activities.
The police have determined that eight people are likely guilty of criminal offenses. Their files have been transferred to the Public Prosecution Service, which will decide on possible criminal prosecution.
Police try to show perpetrators the consequences of their behavior
During the interventions, the police also focus on warning the often young users of the forums about cybercriminals. The police hope that users will realize the impact their actions have on themselves and others.
A conviction for cybercrime results in a criminal record, which makes it very difficult to obtain, for example, a mortgage or a certificate of good conduct. This may not seem important to young people yet, but it can cause major problems later in life.