Five Arrested in Argentina for Fraudulent Scheme Mimicking Worldcoin’s Biometric Collection

According to authorities, the criminals planned to use the collected data to create digital replicas that could enable identity theft and other fraudulent activities.The arrests come at a time of heightened concern over biometric data security. A recent report from AuthenticID revealed a record-high 2.1 percent identity fraud rate in 2024, with AI-powered attacks contributing to the surge in sophisticated fraud attempts.

This incident also comes amid increasing regulatory scrutiny of biometric data collection. Worldcoin itself has faced significant challenges in various jurisdictions, including a recent order from German regulators to delete biometric data over alleged GDPR violations.

While Argentine authorities have not disclosed specific details about the suspects and their operations, the case highlights the security challenges surrounding large-scale biometric data collection initiatives. The investigation into potential digital identity theft and fraud schemes remains ongoing.

Argentine officials are expected to increase scrutiny of biometric data collection programs, particularly those operated by private companies, in response to this incident.