Europol-led Operation Dismantles €4M Investment Fraud Network, 7 Arrested, 100+ Servers Seized
A coordinated law enforcement operation led by German prosecutors in Itzehoe, supported by Europol and Eurojust, dismantled an international investment fraud network believed to have targeted victims in at least 50 countries with losses exceeding €4 million. The investigation began in 2022 after a German couple reported being unable to withdraw profits from an online trading platform. Over multiple action days, police arrested seven suspects, including call centre managers, and seized over 100 servers along with cash and other evidence across 17 locations, including a call centre in Kosovo.
The scheme used fake cryptocurrency, forex and stock trading platforms to lure victims with promises of high returns, showing inflated fake profits to build trust before pressuring victims into investing larger sums. Investigators traced the infrastructure to a Cyprus- and Israel-based company allegedly providing "crime-as-a-service" by supplying fraudulent scam websites to criminal groups, whose suspected clients operating fraudulent call centres were located in Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia.
Detalhes técnicos
The operation unfolded in stages: a first action day resulted in two arrests and evidence seizure; analysis of that evidence identified seven additional suspects, including call centre managers; a second action day led to more arrests and seizure of evidence and cash, which in turn led investigators to the Cyprus/Israel-based scam-website supplier. On the final action day, authorities searched 17 locations and seized more than 100 servers. Eurojust established two joint investigation teams and coordinated judicial action, while Europol deployed digital forensics experts to Albania and Kosovo. Participating countries included Germany, Cyprus, Finland, Albania, Israel, Kosovo and North Macedonia.
Remediação
The seven suspects were arrested for surrender or extradition to Germany to face prosecution.
Linha do tempo
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Europol-led Operation Dismantles €4M Investment Fraud Network, 7 Arrested, 100+ Servers Seized
ler a análise desta fonte ocultar
A coordinated law enforcement operation led by German prosecutors in Itzehoe, supported by Europol and Eurojust, dismantled an international investment fraud network believed to have targeted victims in at least 50 countries with losses exceeding €4 million. The investigation began in 2022 after a German couple reported being unable to withdraw profits from an online trading platform. Over multiple action days, police arrested seven suspects, including call centre managers, and seized over 100 servers along with cash and other evidence across 17 locations, including a call centre in Kosovo.
The scheme used fake cryptocurrency, forex and stock trading platforms to lure victims with promises of high returns, showing inflated fake profits to build trust before pressuring victims into investing larger sums. Investigators traced the infrastructure to a Cyprus- and Israel-based company allegedly providing "crime-as-a-service" by supplying fraudulent scam websites to criminal groups, whose suspected clients operating fraudulent call centres were located in Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia.
Technical Details
The operation unfolded in stages: a first action day resulted in two arrests and evidence seizure; analysis of that evidence identified seven additional suspects, including call centre managers; a second action day led to more arrests and seizure of evidence and cash, which in turn led investigators to the Cyprus/Israel-based scam-website supplier. On the final action day, authorities searched 17 locations and seized more than 100 servers. Eurojust established two joint investigation teams and coordinated judicial action, while Europol deployed digital forensics experts to Albania and Kosovo. Participating countries included Germany, Cyprus, Finland, Albania, Israel, Kosovo and North Macedonia.
Remediation
The seven suspects were arrested for surrender or extradition to Germany to face prosecution.