Police strike against Internet crime

BERLIN (AP) – Police say 200 officers searched 46 homes across Germany in connection with an Internet fraud network accused of using stolen credit card data and hacking personal computers.

German federal police said Wednesday that three people were taken into custody and questioned. Additionally, an Austrian believed to be the administrator of an Internet forum where the illegally acquired data were exchanged and sold was arrested.

Police say the raids took place Tuesday in Germany, and four residences in Austria were also searched at the same time.

Federal Criminal Police Office president Joerg Ziercke says the raids were a significant strike against an “underground economy.”

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.