FBI seizes BreachForums, disrupting major cybercrime activities
The FBI, in collaboration with international law enforcement agencies, seized the notorious cybercrime forum BreachForums. For years, BreachForums was a popular English-language forum where hackers and cybercriminals advertised, sold, and traded stolen data. Recently, a threat actor used the forum to advertise Dell customers’ personal information and data stolen from a Europol portal.
BreachForums has demonstrated remarkable resilience. Last year, authorities seized a previous version of the site just three months after arresting its administrator, Conor Brian Fitzpatrick, also known as "pompompurin." Following Fitzpatrick's arrest, an individual using the handle "Baphomet" took over and re-established the site, which had operated under three different domains over the past year, according to the FBI.
Unlike the previous seizure, this time the authorities also took control of the forum’s official Telegram channel and Baphomet's channel. Both channels displayed a message from the FBI announcing their control and review of the site’s backend data. The message also encouraged anyone with information about cybercriminal activity on BreachForums to contact the FBI via a dedicated website.
When contacted by TechCrunch, FBI spokesperson Samantha Shero and Department of Justice spokesperson Joshua Stueve both declined to comment. ShinyHunters, another BreachForums administrator, did not respond to a Telegram message requesting comment. It remains unclear how authorities gained control of the Telegram channels, though it is suspected that Baphomet may have been arrested and his devices seized. Telegram spokesperson Remi Vaughn confirmed that the company did not cooperate with any law enforcement agencies in the takedown.
Fitzpatrick, the previous administrator, pleaded guilty to federal charges last July.
