The case involving the use of electronic money providers by suspects was in a Bank in Asia in 2016. In this case, cybercriminals gained access to the computer systems of the Bank, and transferred $81 million to accounts held the central Bank of a country across the globe. The funds were then transferred to accounts held by individuals and businesses back in Asia with much of the money remaining unaccounted for.

During the investigation, it was discovered that the suspects had used electronic money providers, such as online payment platforms, to move the stolen funds. The cybercriminals had created fake identities and used these to open accounts with the electronic money providers. They then transferred the stolen funds to these accounts and withdrew the money using various methods, including bank transfers and cash withdrawals.

The use of electronic money providers made it more difficult for law enforcement agencies to track the stolen funds, as the transactions were conducted online and the suspects had taken steps to conceal their identities. However, investigators were able to use a combination of forensic analysis, cooperation from the electronic money providers, and international law enforcement cooperation to identify the suspects and recover some of the stolen funds.

FIU’s role in this heist: The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the country plays a critical role in detecting and preventing financial crimes, including money laundering and terrorist financing. In this case the respective FIU was involved in investigating the fraudulent transactions. The Cybercriminals had originally attempted to siphon out a much bigger value from the Bank's account. The FIU was responsible for raising the alarm about the suspicious transactions, which ultimately helped to prevent the theft of the entire amount. After the incident, the FIU launched an investigation into the matter, and several officials were arrested for their alleged involvement in the crime.

The FIU's role in this case highlights the importance of financial intelligence units in combating financial crimes. Their ability to monitor and analyse financial transactions, as well as to share information with other law enforcement agencies, is critical in identifying and disrupting illegal activities such as money laundering and terrorist financing.

This case highlights the risks associated with the use of electronic money providers by suspects in financial crimes and the prime importance of FIU in mitigation of this risk. While these platforms can offer convenience and flexibility, they can also be vulnerable to fraud and abuse. As such, it is important for electronic money providers to have robust security measures in place and to cooperate with law enforcement agencies to prevent and detect financial crimes.