Law enforcers from across Europe have come together to tackle a major Ukraine-based fraud operation said to have cost consumers in the region more than €10 million.
Eurojust coordinated the operation, which involved authorities from the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine.
An action day on December 9 resulted in 72 searches across three Ukrainian cities: Dnipro, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Kyiv. Twelve people were arrested and 45 were identified as suspects.
Searches, arrests, and seized assets
Police seized forged police officer and bank employee IDs, computers, laptops, hard drives, mobile phones, and a polygraph machine.
Authorities also seized cash, 21 vehicles, various weapons, and ammunition.
- 72 searches across Dnipro, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Kyiv
- 12 people arrested
- 45 people identified as suspects
- Forged police officer and bank employee IDs seized
- Computers, laptops, hard drives, and mobile phones seized
- Cash, 21 vehicles, weapons, and ammunition seized
How the call center fraud worked
The fraud ring appears to have centered around call centers operating in the three Ukrainian cities.
Some scammers allegedly tricked victims into downloading remote access software, which was then used to steal banking logins.
Others apparently claimed that victims’ bank accounts had been compromised and directed them to transfer funds to so-called safe accounts controlled by the fraud network.
Recruitment and incentives
Around 100 people from the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, and other countries were recruited by the network to work in the call centers.
Workers reportedly received up to 7% of the proceeds as an incentive to continue scamming victims.
According to Eurojust, scammers were promised bonuses including cash, cars, or a new apartment in Kyiv if they earned over €100,000 in proceeds.
Different roles inside the network
Members of the network allegedly had different roles within the operation.
Some were responsible for making scam phone calls, while others forged official documents from police and banks.
The network also allegedly included people who collected cash directly from victims.
- Scam callers operating from call centers
- People forging police and bank documents
- Cash collectors receiving money from victims
- Managers coordinating targets, workers, and proceeds
Call center fraud continues to spread
The December arrests in Ukraine are part of a wider pattern of police operations against fraud gangs operating in the region.
In September, European police disrupted a €100 million cryptocurrency investment fraud operation after raids in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Romania, and Bulgaria.
A few months earlier, authorities in Israel, the United Kingdom, Cyprus, Albania, and Germany disrupted a €3 million investment fraud gang that contacted victims through call centers.
Back in 2022, authorities in Ukraine exposed a network of call centers engaged in financial fraud targeting domestic and European Union citizens.
Warning signs for consumers
This case highlights common tactics used in call center fraud, including remote access software, fake bank warnings, forged documents, and pressure to move money quickly.
Victims should be especially cautious if anyone claiming to be from a bank or police department asks them to install software, move funds to a safe account, or keep the situation secret.
- Someone asks you to install remote access software
- A caller claims your bank account has been compromised
- You are told to move money into a safe or protected account
- You receive documents that appear official but pressure you to act quickly
- A caller tells you not to speak with your bank, family, or police
Saw something suspicious?
Search or report a suspicious firm, website, email, or phone number.
If you were contacted by a suspicious investment platform, recovery agent, broker, or call centre, preserve evidence and check the entity before sending more money.