International law enforcement agencies announced Friday dismantling one of the largest known networks of fraudulent platforms on the dark web, uncovering hundreds of thousands of fake websites used to scam users seeking child sexual abuse content.

The investigation, launched by German investigators in 2021, initially targeted a dark web platform known as “Alice with Violence CP.” The authorities soon uncovered a far broader operation allegedly run by a single individual who controlled more than 373,000 hidden websites designed to impersonate marketplaces for illicit material and cybercrime services.

German law enforcement said the sites advertised offerings ranging from purported child abuse content to stolen credit card data and access to compromised systems. In reality, the platforms were scams: customers were persuaded to pay in cryptocurrency but never received the promised goods.

Between February 2020 and July 2025, the suspect advertised illicit material across tens of thousands ofdomains, offering “packages” priced at up to €215 ($248) and claiming to provide data volumes ranging from several gigabytes to terabytes. Investigators said the sites displayed previews of content but did not provide anymaterial after payment.

Authorities traced the infrastructure behind the network, identifying up to 300 servers at its peak, more than a third of them located in Germany. Investigators say the suspect — a 35-year-old Chinese national — generated nearly $400,000 in revenue from roughly 10,000 customers worldwide.

German prosecutors have issued an international arrest warrant.

The investigation broadened earlier this month, when authorities identified 440 individuals who had used the platform. More than 100 remain under active investigation, officials said.

Law enforcement agencies emphasized that even though customers never received the illegal material, attempting to purchase it constitutes a criminal offense in many jurisdictions. Officials also see the users as potential intelligence leads.

“Individuals seeking access to exclusive and severe material can represent high-value targets,” investigators said, noting that such cases can help map broader criminal networks.