Case Study

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CASE STUDY
Case Study 7 (Global Action against Online Fraudsters in
the Airline Sector)
In November 2014, a coordinated international operation led to the arrest of 118
individuals in connection with an online fraudulent scheme against airline companies.
The operation was carried out at more than 80 airports and involved over 60 airlines
and 45 countries. The investigation was coordinated by Europol, INTERPOL and
AMERIPOL.
The suspects allegedly purchased plane tickets using stolen or fake credit cards
generating losses of USD 1 billion. The investigation revealed that the fraudulent
scheme was in several cases connected to other crimes, such as drug and human
trafficking.
The airline and credit card companies involved participated actively in meetings with
law enforcement at Europol's European Cybercrime Center (EC3). The companies
provided investigators with information contained in their databases. This partnership
allowed law enforcement to identify 281 suspicious transactions.
An extensive international network allowed investigators to trace the suspects. The
International Air Transport Association provided information on individuals using
fraudulently obtained tickets. INTERPOL played a crucial role in identifying wanted
persons and stolen documents. Europol officers were active at several European
airports as well as in Singapore and Bogota.
Special feature
● The main lesson learned from this operation is that partnerships between law
enforcement and private sector are key for countering cybercrime threats. The
cooperation between private companies, the International Air Transport
Association, Europol, INTERPOL, AMERIPOL and national law enforcement
authorities was fruitful. This strategic collaboration allowed investigators to
gather the necessary information to identify illicit transactions and the suspects.
Discussion questions
● What are the advantages of inter-agency cooperation? What are the benefits of
public-private partnerships in the investigation of organized crime?
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CASE ANALYSIS
The case is all about the successful operation involving inter-agency partnership
and coordination of law enforcement and private sectors against cyber crime
threats that happened in November 2014 .
As a result, 118 individuals were arrested who are allegedly involved in an online
fraudulent scheme against airline companies which involved more than 80 airports
in over 60 airlines and 45 countries. According to the coordinated investigation of
INTERPOL, EUROPOL and AMERIPOL, the modus operandi of the suspects is
buying or purchasing plane tickets using fake or stolen credit cards that reach the
value of USD 1 billion of losses. And also, they found out that the fraudulent
scheme was connected to other organized crimes like drug and human trafficking.
This successful operation would not be possible without the coordination of private
sectors and the law enforcement agencies in international ground. The said
partnerships resulted in discovering 281 suspicious transactions by the
investigators. It's also known as strategic collaboration, because the business
sector and law enforcement organizations work together to detect unlawful
transactions and suspects by sharing information and other resources.
PRIVATE SECTORS PARTICIPATION
Airlines and Credit Card Companies (1) Actively met with the law
enforcement at Europol’s
European Cybercrime Center
(EC3).
(2) Provided investigators with
information contained in their
databases.
International Air Transport Association (1) Provided information about

individuals who are using
fraudulently obtained tickets.
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LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTICIPATION
INTERPOL= International Criminal (1) Helped to identify wanted

Police Organization persons and stolen documents.
AMERIPOL= The Police Community of (1) Helped in the investigation

the Americas together with Interpol and
Europol.
EUROPOL= European Law (1) Europol officers were active at

Enforcement Organization several european airports as well
as in singapore and bogota.
What are the advantages of inter-agency cooperation?
Interagency cooperation is usually described as a more reactive approach where

agencies are dealing with incidents as they occur and try to work together as-
needed in a professional manner. Here are some of the advantages of the inter-
agency cooperation:
● Interagency cooperation in law enforcement benefits everyone involved.
● It helps cut costs, improve information and training resources, and make
agencies more effective overall.
● As you seek to build interagency collaborations, remember it's about working
together effectively, not about which agency is best.
● Interagency collaboration promotes greater efficiency in service delivery
● Inter-agency cooperation improves:
1. role definition of participating agencies
2. improves the quality and quantity of program information, and
3. minimizes political damage from reduced funding.
● Make the work easier as they widen the scope of the limitation of their
functions.
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What are the benefits of public-private partnerships in the

investigation of organized crimes?
The following are the benefits of public-private collaborations and partnerships
in the investigation of organized crime:
- Public-private partnerships promote mutual and effective sharing of

information, knowledge and experience and extensive joint and
coordinated action that could help in the investigation and comprehension
of organized criminal groups and organized crimes.
- It enables the effective exchange of information and expertise, as well as
coordinated actions that help to ease the process of investigating
organized crimes.
- It generates new ideas for dealing and countering the global threat posed
by organized crime and organized criminal groups.
- Public and private partnerships provide a more diverse and well-
connected approach to detecting and investigating organized crime by
widening the scope of limitation of functions without compromising
jurisdictions for every agency or companies involved in the operation for
pursuing wanted criminals.
- it strengthens or induces the capability of law enforcement to locate
person/s or organizations by cooperating with private sectors in obtaining
information and records of transactions in a legal way…

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PRIVATE SECTORS PARTICIPATION

International Air Transport Association (1) Provided information about

LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTICIPATION

INTERPOL= International Criminal (1) Helped to identify wanted

AMERIPOL= The Police Community of (1) Helped in the investigation

EUROPOL= European Law (1) Europol officers were active at

What are the advantages of inter-agency cooperation?

Interagency cooperation is usually described as a more reactive approach where

What are the benefits of public-private partnerships in the

- Public-private partnerships promote mutual and effective sharing of

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