Police in Casablanca have arrested four people suspected of running a big online scam.
The group is accused of hacking banking systems to commit large-scale fraud. Security sources said they used stolen credit and debit card information to live a luxurious lifestyle, buying goods online and having them delivered to their homes.
Police searched the suspects’ homes and seized two laptops, five mobile phones, and a large amount of goods bought illegally. This included 200 cartons of cigarettes, various household items, and cash believed to come from reselling the stolen items.
The four are now under investigation. Prosecutors are also looking into whether the gang has partners or connections outside Morocco.
The method used is called carding. Fraudsters get card details through phishing emails or from the Dark Web. Instead of taking money out at ATMs, which is risky and often limited, they buy goods with the stolen credit and sell them on the informal market to make “clean” money.
This case shows Morocco’s growing problem with online crime. The country has set up the National Office for Fighting Cybercrime, which brings together experts to investigate these cases.
Police in Casablanca now use computer tools to trace IP addresses and track online purchases. With more people paying online, reports of cybercrime have gone up by more than 25% in the past year. Authorities work closely with the Interbank Monetary Center (CMI) to spot unusual spending patterns quickly.
The police said these networks often operate across borders. Stolen card data may come from Europe or North America, with local gangs acting as “middlemen” to cash it in. Moroccan authorities regularly share information with Interpol to break up these cross-border crime networks.
