US EditionMajor Data Leak Forum LeakBase Seized by FBI, Europol, and Shut Down
The FBI and Europol seized LeakBase, a forum with over 142,000 members and 215,000 messages, arresting top users to disrupt stolen data trafficking.
- On March 4, 2026, federal investigators seized LeakBase and its database, and the FBI redirected the forum's domain to nameservers it controls, effectively shutting the site.
- LeakBase emerged in 2021 and operated on open-web domains such as leakbasews and leakbasela, allowing users to sell stolen breach data including credit/debit cards and banking information.
- By December 2025 investigators recorded more than 142,000 registered users and over 215,000 private messages, with numerous archived breach databases and preserved forum contents; Europol noted, `One of the forum’s notable internal rules prohibited the sale or publication of any data related to Russia`.
- Authorities de-anonymized multiple users and Europol said around 100 enforcement actions targeted the top 37 active users, resulting in over 13 arrests and interviews, the FBI reports.
- Security researchers suspect LeakBase originates from Russia and warn emerging replacement sites may appear despite preserved forum evidence for investigations.
38 Articles
38 Articles
DOJ seizes LeakBase, one of the world's biggest hacker forums
The Department of Justice describes LeakBase as a clearinghouse for hacked databases. Alongside the "hundreds of millions" of account credentials, it offers credit and debit card numbers, banking details, and other personally identifiable information that can fuel account takeovers and fraud.Read Entire Article
According to Europol, the police in Amsterdam closed one of the world's largest trading centres for stolen data in the course of an international action. In 14 countries, investigators had accessed on a joint day of action on Tuesday. According to LeakBase, Europol was a "central hub in the cybercrime ecosystem". The platform had 142,000 registered users worldwide and specialised in the trade in stolen data. According to Europol, it was open on …
In the Netherlands, one of the world's largest digital trading venues for stolen Internet data has been closed in the course of an international police action.
Millions of data were negotiated on the Leakbase platform. The server was in Amsterdam, the customers all over the world. They are now reading a clear message on the website.
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