Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704), a global leader in security software and solutions, today announced its collaboration in the arrest of the head of an international criminal network suspected of stealing more than $60 million through business email compromise (BEC) scams and CEO fraud. The arrest is the result of a joint operation by INTERPOL and the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crime Commission utilizing Trend Micro research to identify and arrest the culprit.  

“Trend Micro is a strong proponent of public-private partnerships in the constant battle against cybercriminals,” said Raimund Genes, chief technology officer for Trend Micro. “We have a collective adversary in those who mean to do harm via technology, and we at Trend Micro do all we can to support law enforcement in apprehending and prosecuting these attackers. This is another a milestone for the cybersecurity community working together.”

The Nigerian national is believed to be the leader of a 40-person network across Nigeria, Malaysia and South Africa that provides malware and carries out attacks. He is also suspected of colluding with money launderers in China, Europe and the U.S. who provided illicit bank account details in which stolen money was housed.

“Arrests like this are made possible by partnerships between members of the security community which come together with the common goal of making the internet a safer place,” said Noboru Nakatani, Executive Director of the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation. “BEC scams are particularly difficult to combat due to their complexity, which is why public-private sector cooperation is essential.”

Trend Micro is a strategic partner supporting INTERPOL and its member countries with knowledge, resources and strategies to fight global cybercrime through its Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore.