An international law enforcement operation led by Europol and the United States has dismantled LeakBase, an online cybercrime forum used to distribute stolen data and hacking-related material. Authorities seized the site’s infrastructure and carried out enforcement actions across several countries as part of a coordinated effort targeting the platform and its users.
Investigators said the forum functioned as a marketplace for cybercriminal activity. Members used the platform to share hacked databases, stolen credentials, and tools associated with cyberattacks. According to law enforcement statements, the site accumulated more than 142,000 registered members and contained tens of thousands of posts discussing leaked data and hacking methods.
Authorities also said the forum hosted a large collection of compromised information obtained from previous breaches. The material reportedly included credit card numbers, bank account details, login credentials, and other personal or corporate records. Investigators linked the platform to the circulation of data connected to multiple cyber incidents involving businesses and individuals.
The takedown involved law enforcement agencies from 14 countries. Investigators executed search warrants, conducted raids, and made arrests in several locations during the operation. Countries involved included the United States, Australia, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and the United Kingdom, among others.
Officials said they also seized the forum’s technical infrastructure and obtained a large amount of internal data linked to the site. The seized information reportedly includes user accounts, forum posts, private messages, and connection logs that may help investigators identify individuals who used the platform.
Following the seizure, the forum’s website was replaced with a law enforcement notice indicating that the service had been taken offline as part of an ongoing investigation. Authorities said the disruption phase of the operation began with the seizure of the domain and technical infrastructure that supported the forum.
Europol described LeakBase as a central hub within the cybercrime ecosystem. The site has been active since 2021 and provided a place where cybercriminals could exchange stolen information, publish breach data, and communicate through private messages. Investigators said the forum contained more than 32,000 posts and over 215,000 private messages between users.
Officials said the operation targeted some of the platform’s most active members and administrators. Investigators carried out around 100 enforcement actions globally, including interviews, searches, and evidence collection. Authorities said the actions were aimed at disrupting the networks that used the forum to profit from stolen data.
Law enforcement agencies involved in the operation included the FBI and Europol, along with police and cybercrime units from multiple countries. Officials said the case demonstrates the growing level of cooperation between international agencies investigating cybercrime platforms operating across national borders.
Authorities said the investigation into the forum and its users remains ongoing. The data seized during the operation is expected to support further inquiries into individuals who participated in the platform and the broader cybercrime networks connected to it.