German Police Dismantle Investment Fraud Service, Arrest Seven

German police, supported by Europol and Eurojust, have dismantled a multinational “crime-as-a-service” operation linked to investment fraud. The Itzehoe Public Prosecutor’s Office in Germany led the raid against a company suspected of supplying fraudulent trading platforms and multiple call centres to criminal groups. Investigators estimate losses to victims exceed 4 million euros. In a coordinated sweep, authorities searched 17 locations, seized 100 servers, and arrested seven suspects. The crime reportedly targeted victims across more than 50 countries.

Europol’s press materials describe a scheme where phoney trading websites funnel prospective investors into a central investment scam. The operators allegedly used these fake platforms and misinformation about quick profits in cryptocurrency, foreign currencies, or stocks to lure victims. Data on people expressing interest at these sites was sold as leads to call centres, which then contacted victims to persuade further investments.

Investigators identified suspected call‑centre clients of the Cyprus and Israel‑based operation in Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia. The investigation began in 2022 after German victims reported withdrawal issues; two prior action days in 2022 and 2025 resulted in arrests and seizures, according to Eurojust.

Netcraft’s Austin Anderson notes that disrupting upstream providers like the platform operator can impact fraud operations at scale, but cautions that arrests must continue to remove offenders from the market.