MADRID – Spanish police said Sunday they had arrested 24 Nigerians as part of an international crackdown on credit card fraud.

The suspects "belong to an international organisation specialising in 'carding'," police said in a statement, referring to a practice where criminals fraudulently use credit card numbers to buy items over the Internet.

It added that they used credit card numbers, obtained by other members of the network - residents of Canada and Vietnam - through computer hacking.

The 24 people, who were seized in Madrid, would usually order expensive items like electronic goods over the Internet that they would then sell on, the police said.

One, who specialised in buying plane and train tickets, had built-up a "veritable travel agency," police said.

[AFP / Expatica]