HEADLINES

Malaysia joins global crackdown on LeakBase cybercrime forum

MACC works with international partners to dismantle data-leak marketplace linked to stolen credentials and cyber fraud

4:53 PM MYT

 

KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has joined a coordinated international enforcement operation to dismantle the cybercrime data-leak forum known as LeakBase, working with law enforcement agencies from 14 countries.

In a statement today, MACC said it participated in the March 3 operation alongside major enforcement agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Department of Justice, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, Kosovo Police, Police Scotland, Polícia Judiciária of Portugal, the Australian Federal Police, Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office, Spain’s Policía Nacional, the Federal Police of Belgium and Poland’s Central Cybercrime Bureau.

The operation was hosted and facilitated by Europol at its headquarters in The Hague and involved arrests, house searches and “knock-and-talk” interventions across multiple jurisdictions.

As part of the operation, MACC’s Special Operations Division executed a search warrant at a web-hosting solutions company in Kuala Lumpur.

“Cyber forensic examinations confirmed that the LeakBase forum was actively operating through servers hosted at the facility, leading to the seizure of digital evidence and the shutdown of the forum’s domain,” the commission said.

Investigations found that LeakBase, active since 2021, served as an online marketplace for stolen data used in cybercrime activities.

“The platform contained large volumes of compromised account credentials, including email and password combinations frequently used for account takeovers, fraud and other illicit online activities,” MACC said.

The forum had more than 142,000 registered members and over 215,000 messages, with an extensive archive of hacked databases from numerous cyber breaches. Users traded stolen information including credit and debit card numbers, banking details, usernames, passwords and other sensitive personal and corporate data.

MACC said its participation reflects Malaysia’s continued commitment to strengthening international cooperation in combating cybercrime and cross-border misuse of data.

“The Commission will continue working closely with global enforcement partners to safeguard digital ecosystems and uphold the integrity of financial and information systems,” it added.— March 6, 2026

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