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Switzerland files first indictment for global cybercrime case

Xinhua, August 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Swiss Federal Council reported Tuesday that the country's Office of the Attorney General filed a charge against three individuals accused of unlawfully obtaining credit card details from across the world for commercial gains.

"This is the first time in Switzerland that an indictment has been filed against accused engaged in criminal activity on a global scale who were not physically present in Switzerland," the office said in a written statement.

"The parties affected are credit card holders around the world and Swiss financial institutions. The three defendants were arrested in Bangkok, Thailand and extradited to Switzerland," it added.

According to findings, the three defendants had illegally obtained the data of at least 133,600 credit cards across the world between October 2009 and their arrests in 2014 and 2015.

This was done by conducting "phishing" attacks which use bogus emails, websites and text messages to obtain sensitive information.

All three individuals, who are currently in prison while they await their sentences, have admitted to the charges. Enditem