Austrian and Albanian authorities, supported by Europol and Eurojust, dismantled a large cryptocurrency investment fraud ring that stole an estimated €50 million from victims worldwide and arrested 10 suspects after coordinated raids on April 17. The operation ran professionally organized call centres in Tirana with up to 450 staff who lured victims to fake trading platforms, used remote-access tools and pressure tactics to steal funds, then laundered proceeds and re-scammed victims with fake recovery fees. #Europol #Tirana
Keypoints
- Coordinated raids in Austria and Albania led to 10 arrests and the seizure of €891,735, 443 computers, 238 mobile phones, and other devices.
- The fraud ring operated like a legitimate business, employing up to 450 people across departments and organized by language teams.
- Victims were recruited via ads for fake crypto platforms and handled by “retention agents” who often used remote-access software to control devices.
- Stolen funds were never invested but were funneled into an international money‑laundering scheme and some victims were defrauded again with fake recovery fees.
- The investigation began in Vienna in June 2023 and identified victims across Italy, Germany, Greece, Spain, Canada, and the United Kingdom.