Reading Comprehension The authorities involved are working closely with INTERPOL to 13 .the movements of the gang’s money worldwide, with investigations focusing on a worldwide criminal syndicate known as Axe, which allegedly used business email compromise (BEC) scams to defraud a US-based mental health institute. BEC scams usually target third-party vendors to gain access to business email accounts after which payments are 14 to the bank accounts of money mules. The US Secret Service official said: “The fight against cyber-enabled crime knows no boundaries, and the 15 efforts in this case show how vital it is to work collectively with our international partners to execute impactful16 of these highly organized transnational criminal syndicates.” Eight suspected Axe leaders were arrested in Cape Town and Johannesburg in 2021, leading to a massive drop in the group’s activities and similar crimes. They face 17 to the US, where they are charged with stealing more than EUR 6.25 million from romance scam victims there.
Europol supported the Spanish National Police to take down a large high-risk organized crime network in Spain. The investigation 18 how the criminal leaders contacted the investigated individuals to carry out money laundering operations. These activities included various investment projects such as land acquisition to develop luxury real estate projects, and purchasing restaurants, industrial warehouses, and boats. To 19 the foreign assets the group used a network of bogus companies established in different counties, including South America. The criminals used advanced technologies, such as cryptocurrencies. They were planning to purchase one of the main nightclubs and to take over the nightlife and catering sector. This is a clear indication that this organized crime network was planning to control key sectors of the Spanish economy, such as the tourism sector, and to 20 state institutions.Europol 21 the information exchange and provided analytical support. During the action day, Europol 22 experts on the spot to cross-check operational information in real-time against Europol’s databases and to provide technical support with digital forensic capabilities.
