Global crackdown shuts 373K dark web sites in Operation Alice, exposing scam network and tracking 440 suspects worldwide.
An international cybercrime operation has led to the shutdown of more than 373,000 dark web domains linked to a massive fraud network, according to Europol.
The operation, known as “Operation Alice,” involved law enforcement agencies from 23 countries and targeted a network of fake darknet platforms designed to lure users seeking illegal content.
Investigators say the sites operating under names such as “Alice with Violence CP” advertised child abuse material and cybercrime services, including stolen credit card data and unauthorized system access. In reality, the platforms functioned as scams, taking payments without delivering any content.
Authorities estimate that the suspected operator, a 35-year-old man based in China, generated around €345,000 (approximately $400,000) from roughly 10,000 users who attempted to purchase the illicit material.
The investigation uncovered a vast infrastructure spanning over 100 servers and hundreds of thousands of .onion domains. Many of the sites displayed real abusive material as bait to attract buyers, while ultimately defrauding them.
So far, around 440 individuals who made payments on the platforms have been identified, with investigations ongoing against up to 600 suspects worldwide.
The crackdown, carried out between March 9 and March 19, 2026, resulted in seized domains now displaying law enforcement warning banners, signaling the dismantling of one of the largest scam networks ever uncovered on the darknet.
Officials say the operation highlights both the scale of cyber-enabled fraud and the continued demand for illegal content online. Authorities also emphasized that international cooperation remains critical in tracking offenders operating across borders and anonymized networks.
Europol stated that Operation Alice sends a clear message: even within hidden services, large-scale criminal operations can be identified, disrupted, and dismantled.
Reports are sourced from official documents, law-enforcement updates, and credible investigations.
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