Europol dismantles international group that defrauded investors of 3 million €

In cooperation with law enforcement agencies in five countries, Europol has disrupted the criminal activities of a network that operated a fraudulent online investment platform. The fraudsters defrauded at least €3 million from more than 100 victims.

The operation took place simultaneously on May 13, 2025 in Albania, Cyprus and Israel. As a result of the searches, electronic equipment, documentation and cash were seized. The suspect, who was detained in Cyprus, is to be extradited to Germany.

• The scheme consisted of defrauding investors through a fake investment platform: the victims were shown fake profit charts, after which they were persuaded to deposit large sums of money. Instead, the funds ended up in the accounts of the fraudsters.
• The investigation started back in 2022 after a complaint from a German couple. In 2023, law enforcement officers conducted raids in Belgium and Latvia, arrested two people and tracked down seven more suspects, including call center managers.

The scam was based on psychological pressure: the criminals presented themselves as “brokers”, lured depositors with small amounts, and then persuaded them to make large investments. The platform was completely fake – the profits were only simulated. Europol created a virtual control center to coordinate actions between countries.

European law enforcement officers have once again demonstrated the effectiveness of international cooperation. The case is not over – the investigation is ongoing, new arrests are expected. At the same time, citizens are urged to be cautious with online investments, especially if they promise “huge profits”.