Naples: Corrupt law enforcement officers sold sensitive information about celebrities and footballers for a few euros.

Naples – Tax data, criminal records, banking information, and social security contributions were stolen from state databases, packaged, and resold to the highest bidder.

This is what emerged from a large-scale operation by the Italian State Police which, in the early hours of today, dismantled a suspected criminal network specializing in cyber espionage and the buying and selling of sensitive data.

The investigation, coordinated by the "Cybercrime Section" of the Naples Public Prosecutor's Office, led to the issuance of 29 precautionary measures in the provinces of Naples, Ferrara, Bolzano, Rome, and Belluno. Specifically, the investigating judge ordered four suspects to be jailed, six people placed under house arrest, and nineteen others to sign in. The charges, to varying degrees, include conspiracy to unauthorize computer systems, corruption, and disclosure of official secrets.

The system and the involvement of public officials

According to investigators from the Naples Flying Squad, supported by the Cyber ​​Security Operations Center, the criminal network relied on a proven system of corruption. At the center of the investigation are several public officials, including members of the police force, who—for a fee—are said to have accessed databases of national interest (such as the SDI or the INPS systems) unlawfully.

The information was then passed on to members of the organization, who then resold it to private investigation companies, debt collection agencies, or individual buyers. Victims of data theft included ordinary citizens, but also figures in entertainment, finance, business, and several public companies.

The information “price list”

During searches of the suspects' homes and the offices of the agencies involved, the police seized numerous computer devices. The most disturbing detail to emerge from the documents was the discovery of a veritable price list, a document cataloging costs and types of information that could be extracted.

According to the charges, the fees varied based on the sensitivity of the data:

25 euros for a police background check using the SDI database.

From 6 to 11 euros for queries on INPS databases (pension slips, income data, and operational account statements).

Along with the arrests, the authorities proceeded with the precautionary seizure of assets and financial resources with a total value of approximately 1,3 million euros.