Following several investigations, several data traders have been arrested by the police in various locations in the Netherlands in recent times. They are suspected of involvement in the sale of personal data. These data were traded within various Telegram groups. Police are now posting warning messages in those groups.
Through data theft, hacks or a data breach, for example at companies or organizations, personal data can fall into the hands of people with wrong intentions. This often involves data such as names, dates of birth, phone numbers, bank details, e-mail addresses or home addresses.
In many cases, the personal data is then sold; this is called data trading. The buyer, a criminal, can use this data for new, criminal, activities. Because the criminal has this data, he or she can, for example, pose as a bank employee and thus gain the trust of citizens. In some cases, lists are sold containing only data on elderly people in order to capitalize on their (possible) vulnerability. This form of data trading is illegal and sellers risk up to four years in prison.
Thus, the trade in so-called leads (personal data) often forms the basis for other forms of crime. Therefore, the police focus not only on tracking down hackers, for example, but also on disrupting and preventing the trade in the stolen data. In the investigation into illegal data trade, police stumbled upon several Telegram groups in which data was being traded. The Cybercrime Team of Unit North Netherlands obtained a lot of information about and from these groups, after which they gained insight into the largest data traders.
Over the past period, four suspects have been arrested at various locations around the country. They are a 26-year-old man and 20-year-old woman from Leeuwarden, a 28-year-old man from Maarssen and a 31-year-old man with no fixed place of residence. Their data carriers, such as phones, were confiscated. Part of the investigation is where and when the data they possessed was stolen. A total of three firearms were also found and seized during the various arrests. More arrests are not being ruled out.
To show that the police also have an online presence and that investigations into data trafficking continue, messages are being left in both public and closed Telegram groups, in which the police make themselves known and warn members of the consequences of data trafficking. Information from the Telegram groups is being secured.
