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Home > Headlines > US arrests 5 at Germany's request in probe of online fraud involving payment providers

US arrests 5 at Germany's request in probe of online fraud involving payment providers

Published by Global Banking and Finance Review

Posted on November 6, 2025

2 min read

Last updated: January 21, 2026

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Tags:payments Fraud compliance Financial crime Money laundering

Quick Summary

US arrests 5 in a German-led online fraud probe involving payment providers and credit card theft across 193 countries.

Five Arrested in US Following German Inquiry into Online Fraud

Overview of the Online Fraud Investigation

FRANKFURT (Reuters) -The United States has arrested five individuals at Germany's request in a German-led internationally coordinated investigation of online fraud and money laundering networks that used payment service providers, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

Details of the Arrests

The individuals - four U.S. citizens and one Canadian - were arrested in California and made their first appearance in court on Wednesday.

Scope of the Fraud Scheme

"The United States located and arrested the fugitives in the Central District of California for ultimate extradition to Germany," the DOJ said in a statement on Wednesday.

Collusion with Payment Processors

German officials said on Wednesday that 18 people had been arrested earlier this week in searches from Singapore to Canada.

A total of 44 suspects, including six former employees of large German payment service providers, are believed to have taken part in the scheme, which involved stealing the credit card details of some 4.3 million people across 193 countries, German police and prosecutors have said.

"The operators of the network then colluded with German payment service processors - including their executives and compliance officers - to process these payments," the DOJ said in its statement.

(Reporting by Tom Sims, Editing by Miranda Murray)

Key Takeaways

•Five individuals arrested in the US at Germany's request.
•The investigation targets online fraud and money laundering.
•44 suspects involved, including former payment service employees.
•Fraud involved stealing credit card details from 4.3 million people.
•International effort with arrests from Singapore to Canada.

Frequently Asked Questions about US arrests 5 at Germany's request in probe of online fraud involving payment providers

1What is online fraud?

Online fraud refers to any deceptive activity conducted over the internet, typically involving financial transactions, where individuals or organizations are misled for financial gain.

2What is money laundering?

Money laundering is the process of making illegally obtained money appear legitimate, often through a series of transactions that disguise its illegal origins.

3What is financial crime?

Financial crime encompasses a range of illegal activities that result in financial loss, including fraud, money laundering, and embezzlement.

4What is compliance in finance?

Compliance in finance refers to the adherence to laws, regulations, and guidelines governing financial practices to prevent fraud and ensure ethical conduct.

Overview of the Online Fraud Investigation

Details of the Arrests

The individuals - four U.S. citizens and one Canadian - were arrested in California and made their first appearance in court on Wednesday.

Scope of the Fraud Scheme

"The United States located and arrested the fugitives in the Central District of California for ultimate extradition to Germany," the DOJ said in a statement on Wednesday.

Collusion with Payment Processors

German officials said on Wednesday that 18 people had been arrested earlier this week in searches from Singapore to Canada.

"The operators of the network then colluded with German payment service processors - including their executives and compliance officers - to process these payments," the DOJ said in its statement.

(Reporting by Tom Sims, Editing by Miranda Murray)

Key Takeaways

•Five individuals arrested in the US at Germany's request.

•The investigation targets online fraud and money laundering.

•44 suspects involved, including former payment service employees.

•Fraud involved stealing credit card details from 4.3 million people.

•International effort with arrests from Singapore to Canada.

Frequently Asked Questions

1What is online fraud?

Online fraud refers to any deceptive activity conducted over the internet, typically involving financial transactions, where individuals or organizations are misled for financial gain.

2What is money laundering?

Money laundering is the process of making illegally obtained money appear legitimate, often through a series of transactions that disguise its illegal origins.

3What is financial crime?

Financial crime encompasses a range of illegal activities that result in financial loss, including fraud, money laundering, and embezzlement.

4What is compliance in finance?

Compliance in finance refers to the adherence to laws, regulations, and guidelines governing financial practices to prevent fraud and ensure ethical conduct.