The FBI announced the removal of a phishing scam that targeted thousands of victims

FBI Announce On Monday it “dismantled” a global phishing operation that allegedly helped hackers target more than 17,000 victims worldwide.

The operation’s website, known as W3LL, displayed a notice saying it had been seized by the FBI. The office said it worked with Indonesian police on the takedown, which led to the arrest of the alleged W3LL developer — identified only as GL — and the seizure of “key domains.”

Cybercriminals can purchase the W3LL phishing kit for $500 to spread fake versions of websites that mimic the login pages of legitimate services, allowing criminals to steal passwords and multi-factor authentication codes from victims. The phishing group enabled cybercriminals to “attempt to defraud more than $20 million,” according to the FBI.

W3LL’s online marketplace also allowed criminals to buy and sell stolen credentials and access to compromised systems, which “facilitated the sale of more than 25,000 compromised accounts,” the FBI said.

The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment requesting more information.