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"The attacks orchestrated by this criminal gang targeted
thousands of victims throughout 2020, including famous internet
influencers, sport stars, musicians and their families," the
agency said in a statement.
The arrests were made after an investigation with cooperation
from Britain, the United States, Belgium, Malta and Canada,
Europol said.
In a SIM-swapping attack, criminals can gain control over a SIM
- the small computer chip that carries a phone number used to
identify a customer on a telecommunication network. Usually a
phone company is tricked into deactivating a working SIM and
transferring its functions to one controlled by the hackers.
"This enabled (hackers) to steal money, cryptocurrencies and
personal information, including contacts synced with online
accounts," Europol said in a press statement detailing the
operation.
"They also hijacked social media accounts to post content and
send messages masquerading as the victim."
Europol did not identify the victims or say where the arrests
took place. It advised the public not to use services that use
text messages to help log in to online accounts, as these are
vulnerable in SIM-swapping attacks, which it said are on the
rise.
One of the most notable victims of a SIM-swapping attack in the
past was Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, in 2019.
(Reporting by Toby Sterling; editing by John Stonestreet)
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