Canadian authorities have launched a sweeping crackdown on LabHost, a global phishing-as-a-service platform that has defrauded over one million Canadians by mimicking trusted financial and government websites. The operation, led by the RCMP and dubbed Project NOVA, is Canada’s first major effort targeting LabHost users and cybercriminal networks within its borders.
Police executed over 10 search warrants this week across Quebec, focusing on 2,600 suspected users of the platform—two-thirds of whom are based in the province. More than 292,000 victims in Quebec alone were duped into sharing personal and banking information via fake websites.
LabHost offered illicit services to cybercriminals for a monthly cryptocurrency fee, allowing them to impersonate over 75 Canadian organizations. The stolen data included sensitive banking credentials, and was trafficked extensively on the dark web.
Authorities seized nearly 200 phones, 115 bank cards, 260 SIM cards, luxury items valued at $150,000, $345,000 in Canadian cash, $190,000 in counterfeit U.S. currency, and multiple crypto wallets. Law enforcement also recovered devices used to forge driver’s licenses and conduct identity theft.
Phishing scams are increasingly sophisticated, and platforms like LabHost pose a serious threat to digital security and financial integrity. Project NOVA is a joint effort by the RCMP National Cybercrime Coordination Centre, the Sûreté du Québec, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, and local police across several Quebec cities.
Officials are urging victims to report incidents to local police and the CAFC.
Source: Swifteradio.com
