The FBI has announced that it has busted a hoax that involved thousands of people

The FBI he announced On Monday it said it had “broke down” a global fraud operation, which it says helped criminals target more than 17,000 people around the world.

The operation’s website, known as W3LL, posted a notice saying it had been seized by the FBI. The agency said it worked closely with Indonesian police in the takedown, which led to the arrest of the suspected developer of W3LL — identified only as GL — and the seizure of “key components.”

Cybercriminals can purchase a $500 W3LL phishing kit to send fake versions of websites that mimic legitimate employee login pages, allowing criminals to steal passwords and authentication codes from victims. The tool helped cybercriminals “fraud more than $20 million,” according to the FBI.

The W3LL online marketplace also allegedly allowed criminals to buy and sell stolen information and access to tools that “facilitated the sale of more than 25,000 accounts,” the FBI said.

The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking further details.