In collaboration with Spain and Latvia, French law enforcement authorities disrupted a cybercrime ring. The ring uses a hacking tool to steal cars without using a physical key fob.
“The criminals targeted vehicles with keyless entry and start systems, utilizing the technology to gain access to the vehicle. And drive away,” Europol said in a press release.
On October 10, 2022, the coordinated operation resulted in the arrest of 31 suspects from 22 locations across the three countries. They include software developers, resellers, and car thieves who used the tool to break into vehicles.
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As part of the arrests, officials seized criminal assets worth €1,098,500. As well as an internet domain that allegedly advertised the service online.
According to Europol, the criminals targeted keyless vehicles from two unnamed French car manufacturers. The perpetrators then marketed the fraudulent package as a “automotive diagnostic solution” to replace the original software.
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After installing the tool, it was possible to open the car doors and start the ignition without using the key fob. The agency did not provide additional details on how the attacks were carried out.
According to Eurojust, the organized crime group “used fraudulent software to steal vehicles by duplicating the vehicles’ ignition keys,”. Adding that “more than €100 million, as well as 12 bank accounts, real estate, and three luxury cars, were seized in France.”
Europol went on to say that the investigation was launched by the French Gendarmerie’s Cybercrime Centre (C3N), with the E.U.-wide law enforcement agency assisting with the case since March 2022.
