Operation IOS X
Operation IOS X, which stands for In Our Sites, is a continuation of a worldwide investigation launched by Interpol in 2014. The operation runs with the help of European Union member states and the US National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center. The aim of the operation is to make the internet a safer place for consumers. Europol seeks to get a growing number of countries and private sector partners involved, to participate in the operation and provide referrals.
Arrests, Seized Products and Frozen Accounts
Operation IOS X has been very successful. Following investigations conducted in 2019, law enforcement officials not only shut down 30,506 domain names, but also:
Arrested 3 suspects; Froze more than €150,000 in several bank accounts and online payment platforms; Seized 26,000 luxury products such as clothes and perfume; Confiscated 363 liters of alcoholic beverages; and Seized many hardware devices.
Raise More Awareness
Illegal and counterfeit products may look like a bargain, but they could pose serious risks to health, safety and privacy. By browsing illicit websites people are exposing their devices to cyber-attacks like phishing and malware, and are placing their personal information at risk of being compromised. Moreover, profits from counterfeiting often fund serious forms of organized crime and damage legitimate brands, businesses and even economies. To raise more awareness, Europol’s IPC3 (Intellectual Property Crime Coordinated Coalition), launched the Don’t F***(ake) Up campaign. It includes a handy how to-guide to detect fraudulent sites selling fakes. The number one rule when buying online? If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
