Eurojust-Backed Authorities Dismantle Ukraine-Based Cyber Fraud Call Center Network
Published
Key Takeaways
- Cross-border action: Authorities dismantled a coordinated, multinational cyber fraud operation
- Scam operations: The call centers used impersonation and remote access to steal funds
- Law enforcement impact: Arrests and seizures followed months of joint investigation
European and Ukrainian authorities with support from Eurojust dismantled a coordinated cyber-enabled fraud network operating call centers in Ukrainian cities. They targeted victims across Europe using social engineering scams, impersonating police officers and bank staff to steal funds.
Posing as police officers and officials, victims were tricked into believing that their accounts were hacked. Victims were persuaded to move money to attacker-controlled “safe” accounts, a Eurojust press release read.
Cyber Fraud Call Center Operations
Several victims were tricked into installing remote access software on their devices. This allowed the gang to gain direct control over their online banking activities. Investigators identified over 400 victims, who incurred a loss of over €10 million.
The scam call centers were situated in Dnipro, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Kyiv. The crack down was a result of 72 searches across three Ukrainian cities.
Authorities seized devices, forged IDs, cash, and vehicles. They also found weapons and ammunition.
Twelve suspects were arrested during the coordinated action, while 45 individuals have been identified as suspects overall. The scam call center employees were based out of the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania among others.
The network ran as a structured operation. Around 100 callers were recruited from European countries. They were paid commissions for successfully scamming victims. Scammers were offered different roles including forging documents, making outbound calls, and collecting cash from victims.
They scammed victims for about 7% of the stolen funds in commission. They were further incentivized with bonuses for duping victims of over EUR 1,00,000. This bonus was never paid out as this figure was never reached, read the Eurojust press release.
Massive International Crack Down
European law enforcement agencies from the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine, along with Eurojust, dismantled the cyber-enabled fraud operation conducted through call centers.
Authorities planned raids in three meetings at the Agency’s premises in The Hague. “Financial support from Eurojust enabled authorities from the Czech Republic, Latvia and Lithuania to join the action day in Ukraine and work together with their Ukrainian counterparts,” read the Eurojust press release.
The case highlights success in growing cross-border cooperation to disrupt organized cyber fraud operations.
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