Federal authorities and international police have officially dismantled LeakBase, a massive online marketplace used by hackers to trade stolen credentials and private data. The Department of Justice announced the seizure of the forum today, marking the end of a platform that served as a primary hub for cybercriminals globally.
According to a recently unsealed affidavit from March 3, LeakBase operated on the open web in English, boasting a massive user base of over 142,000 members. The site served as a digital clearinghouse for more than 215,000 messages and a sprawling archive of hacked databases.
These archives contained hundreds of millions of account credentials, including sensitive information stolen from U.S. corporations and private citizens. Users on the forum routinely bought and sold bank account details, routing numbers, credit card digits, and login information used to facilitate account takeovers.
The takedown was the result of a massive, synchronized effort spanning March 3 and 4. Law enforcement agencies from 14 different countries, coordinated by Europol in The Hague, struck simultaneously.
Authorities seized the forum’s data and two of its primary domains, replacing the site’s interface with official seizure banners. Beyond pulling the plug on the website, officials sent prevention messages to the forum’s members and collected extensive evidence, including IP logs and private communications.
The operation involved more than just digital seizures. Police executed search warrants, conducted interviews, and made arrests across the United States, Australia, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
“The takedown of this cyber forum disrupts a major international platform that cybercriminals use to obtain and profit from the theft of sensitive personal, banking and account credentials,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. He noted that the operation highlights the strength of global partnerships in dismantling critical criminal infrastructure.
U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah emphasized the scale of the cooperation, stating, “Working with our partners, we can take down even the most sophisticated cyber criminals and networks. My office remains steadfast in our commitment to investigate and seek justice for Americans who are targeted by individuals attempting to hide behind foreign borders.”
This victory follows a string of similar disruptions by the FBI and its allies. LeakBase is the latest high-profile marketplace to fall, following the 2022 shutdown of RaidForums and the 2023 seizure of BreachForums. The founder of BreachForums was recently sentenced in 2025.
Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division made it clear that the digital shadows provide little cover.
“Together with our partners, we are sending a message that no criminal is truly anonymous online,” Leatherman said. Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office added that hiding behind a screen does not shield criminals from accountability.
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