A large-scale anti-phishing operation led to arrests.
Europol has reported on the activities of a large group of voice phishing (vishing) scammers who defrauded victims in Europe of tens of millions of euros. Call centers of criminals were located in Ukraine.
The main blow was inflicted by the group on the residents of the Czech Republic, the damage in this country is estimated at more than 8 million euros. Europol, in cooperation with the authorities of the Czech Republic and Ukraine, as well as with Eurojust, the EU criminal justice cooperation agency, conducted an operation to eliminate the criminal network.
As a result of the operation in April this year, six suspects were arrested in Ukraine and four in the Czech Republic. Searches were conducted at various locations in both countries, including the suspects homes, vehicles, and call centers. Mobile phones, SIM cards and computer equipment were seized.
Fraudsters used fake phone numbers and posed as bank and police officers to gain the trust of victims. Victims were asked to transfer funds from their "compromised" bank accounts to the "safe" accounts of criminals.
An investigation into the group's activities was launched by Eurojust at the request of the Czech authorities two years ago in November. In June last year, a joint investigation team was established between the Czech and Ukrainian sides.
According to the Ukrainian police, there were two leaders in the group-a citizen of Ukraine and a citizen of the Czech Republic, who recruited about 20 people to work in a fraudulent scheme. The detainees range in age from 18 to 29, and some of them have previous convictions for violent crimes, drug offenses, and forgery of documents. If the suspects are found guilty, they face up to 12 years in prison in the Czech Republic.
Europol has reported on the activities of a large group of voice phishing (vishing) scammers who defrauded victims in Europe of tens of millions of euros. Call centers of criminals were located in Ukraine.
The main blow was inflicted by the group on the residents of the Czech Republic, the damage in this country is estimated at more than 8 million euros. Europol, in cooperation with the authorities of the Czech Republic and Ukraine, as well as with Eurojust, the EU criminal justice cooperation agency, conducted an operation to eliminate the criminal network.
As a result of the operation in April this year, six suspects were arrested in Ukraine and four in the Czech Republic. Searches were conducted at various locations in both countries, including the suspects homes, vehicles, and call centers. Mobile phones, SIM cards and computer equipment were seized.
Fraudsters used fake phone numbers and posed as bank and police officers to gain the trust of victims. Victims were asked to transfer funds from their "compromised" bank accounts to the "safe" accounts of criminals.
An investigation into the group's activities was launched by Eurojust at the request of the Czech authorities two years ago in November. In June last year, a joint investigation team was established between the Czech and Ukrainian sides.
According to the Ukrainian police, there were two leaders in the group-a citizen of Ukraine and a citizen of the Czech Republic, who recruited about 20 people to work in a fraudulent scheme. The detainees range in age from 18 to 29, and some of them have previous convictions for violent crimes, drug offenses, and forgery of documents. If the suspects are found guilty, they face up to 12 years in prison in the Czech Republic.
