Europol Dismantles €50M Crypto Recovery Scam Network

Europol and Eurojust have dismantled a sophisticated cryptocurrency scam network operating from Albania, seizing €900,000 in cash and IT equipment. The operation followed a two-year investigation into call centers that functioned like professional businesses, employing 450 people across departments including IT and HR. Workers earned ~$938 monthly plus commissions, targeting victims in specific language markets.

The scammers built trust before pitching fabricated investment opportunities, persuading victims to transfer funds. Alarmingly, some victims were targeted twice—first by the initial fraud, then by fake 'recovery' services demanding €500 deposits in crypto accounts to reclaim lost funds.

Eurojust noted the operation's 'high level of organization and professionalism,' highlighting how scammers increasingly exploit crypto's pseudonymity for multi-layered fraud.