Authorities seize over 100 servers in crackdown on global investment fraud

Law enforcement authorities from several countries have dealt a heavy blow to the infrastructure of an investment fraud scheme.

The scheme promised substantial, quick returns from trading in cryptocurrencies, foreign currencies, or stocks.

Victims, who were lured via deceptive advertisements online, were initially encouraged to transfer a small amount. Their online accounts displayed fake profits, making the fraud scheme seem credible and trustworthy.

Scammers then tried to persuade victims to transfer larger sums of money. However, as soon as the victims tried to withdraw their earnings, the operators used delaying tactics to block payments.

Eventually, all communications ceased, leaving victims unable to recover their winnings.

The investigation into the investment scam began in 2022, after a German couple reported that they couldn’t withdraw money invested through an online trading platform. This resulted in two arrests and the seizure of evidence.

In 2025, a second action day led to further arrests and forfeiture of money and capture of more evidence. Analysis of the recovered material paved the way for the latest operation, which occurred on Tuesday, November 3rd.

Led by the German Itzehoe Public Prosecutor’s Office, law enforcement authorities from Albania, Cyprus, Finland, Germany, Israel, Kosovo, and North Macedonia searched 17 locations, confiscating more than 100 servers.

In addition, 7 suspects were arrested and will be extradited to Germany. According to investigators, victims from over 50 countries have lost over €4 million in the investment scheme.

On Tuesday, Europol deployed its experts to Albania and Kosovo to support digital forensic work and run immediate checks against Europol’s databases. Its Virtual Command Post supported the coordinated intervention.

Eurojust helped coordinate the investigation between several countries. It supported requests to gather evidence, arrest suspects, and freeze assets, while helping authorities share information, agree on strategies, and organize joint operations. Two teams involving investigators from different countries were set up at Eurojust.