In a significant cybersecurity operation, German law enforcement has successfully dismantled the Manson Market cybercrime marketplace, seizing over 50 servers and arresting two primary suspects in Germany and Austria. The operation, spearheaded by the Verden Public Prosecutor’s Office and Hanover Police Department, culminated in coordinated raids across multiple European countries.

The investigation, initiated in autumn 2022, uncovered a sophisticated criminal enterprise where fraudsters impersonated bank employees to obtain sensitive information from victims. The marketplace served as a central hub for trading illegally obtained data, including stolen credentials, payment information, and personal data.

Key Developments:
– Over 200 terabytes of evidence seized
– 57 victims identified with losses exceeding €250,000
– 63,000 stolen records discovered on the platform
– Network of fake online shops exposed
– Transactions valued at approximately €93 million ($98 million)

The operation involved law enforcement agencies from Austria, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Finland, Poland, and Europol. The marketplace’s operators earned an estimated $5 million through a 5% commission on transactions conducted between 2018 and 2024.

This takedown follows recent German law enforcement successes, including the seizure of “Crimenetwork,” Germany’s largest cybercrime marketplace, and the disruption of 47 cryptocurrency exchange services and the Dstat.cc DDoS platform.

A warning message on the seized domain now alerts users that all transaction records and communications are in law enforcement custody, emphasizing that criminal activities on the platform are under investigation.