Title: Online Fraudsters Using Cryptocurrencies Dismantled in Joint Italian-Albanian Investigation Backed by Eurojust

Overview

Authorities in Italy and Albania, with the support of Eurojust, dismantled an online investment fraud ring that used cryptocurrencies to swindle unsuspecting victims out of an estimated EUR 15 million.
Over 160 electronic devices, 1 mobile phone, and EUR 3 million worth of assets were seized during the operation.

The organized crime group (OCG) operated from a call center in Tirana, Albania, posing as legitimate brokers and investing gurus.
Once trust was gained, victims were persuaded to transfer large sums of money to the fraudsters.
After the initial investment, victims were persuaded to grant remote access to their personal banking pages.
Victims attempting to recover their funds were later approached by other OCG members demanding additional payments for fake recovery efforts.

The criminals used untraceable virtual numbers and delocalised virtual private networks (VPNs) to gain contact with potential victims.
The group’s activities went unchecked until the joint investigation revealed their identities.

Eurojust supported the judicial cooperation between the Italian and Albanian authorities and funded a joint investigation team (JIT) for information exchange and intelligence gathering.
The investigation involved the coordinated execution of precautionary detention orders against main suspects and the search of 13 locations in Albania.

Italian authorities: Public Prosecutor’s Office of Pisa and Carabinieri Pisa
Albanian authorities: Special Prosecution Office Against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK) and Albanian State Police, Department of Criminal Police, C"Unit-Computer Crime Investigations

Case opened at Eurojust in 2020
Eurojust coordinated cross-border judicial cooperation throughout the investigation, organizing 4 coordination meetings and a coordination center during the action