Authorities in Albania, Cyprus, Finland, Germany, Kosovo and North Macedonia arrested seven suspects and seized more than 100 servers on November 3 in an international operation targeting infrastructure used to run fake investment platforms, Europol said. Eurojust’s participant list also names Israel Police.
The operation was supported by Europol and Eurojust. Investigators searched 17 locations and estimate the scheme caused losses exceeding €4 million, with potential victims in more than 50 countries.
The suspected supplier allegedly provided fraudulent trading websites to criminal groups operating call centres. The platforms advertised quick returns from cryptocurrency, foreign exchange and stock trading. Victims were shown fictitious profits and pressured to transfer more money, while requests to withdraw funds were delayed or blocked, according to Eurojust’s account.
The investigation began in 2022 after a German couple reported being unable to withdraw money invested through an online platform. Evidence gathered during earlier operations led investigators to the suspected infrastructure provider and its alleged clients. The seven people arrested are being held for surrender or extradition proceedings to Germany; the arrests are not convictions.
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