A big cybercrime network has been taken down after authorities in Albania, Kosovo, and the United States worked together to close an online market selling stolen personal data. Three people have been arrested, and the operation revealed a black market that affected thousands of people.
Two of the suspects were arrested in Kosovo, and one in Albania. They were running two illegal platforms, “RYDOX” and “BlackDB,” which sold sensitive data like names, addresses, and bank details, mostly from victims in the U.S.
How the illegal sites made money
The “RYDOX” platform earned over $230,000 since 2016, selling more than 320,000 stolen data entries to 18,000 users. A server in Malaysia hosted the platform, which was seized with help from local authorities.
“BlackDB” sold stolen credit card information and hacked account details, which were then used for fraud and identity theft.
Key suspect faces extradition
One of the arrested suspects, 33-year-old Liridon Masurica, also known as “@blackdb,” now faces being sent to the U.S. He could face up to 55 years in prison if found guilty of running the illegal sites.
The arrests came after months of investigation by Albania’s Special Prosecution Office (SPAK), Kosovo’s Special Prosecution, and U.S. agencies, including the FBI.
