Europol Dismantles €700 Million Crypto Fraud Network
Date: 2025-12-05 Author: Gabriel Deangelo Categories: IN WORLD
Europol has completed a large-scale operation against an international crypto criminal group operating in several European countries and Israel. The criminal network used fake investment platforms to launder over €700 million. The investigation centered on a single fake website, but investigations revealed a complex structure involving numerous intermediary companies and marketing agencies.
The victims of the scheme were private investors lured in with promises of high returns. After making their initial deposits, they were convinced to invest further amounts by displaying fake returns on fake trading platforms. The criminals transferred the withdrawn funds through various crypto exchanges and blockchains, using digital anonymity to conceal the illicit flows.
The operation to dismantle the network consisted of two stages. The first phase took place on October 27, 2025, and included simultaneous raids in Cyprus, Germany, and Spain. Nine suspects were detained and the following seized:
- €800,000 in bank accounts;
- €415,000 in cryptocurrency;
- €300,000 in cash;
- expensive watches, electronics, and documents.
The second phase of the investigation, on November 25-26, focused on affiliated marketing companies that distributed deceptive advertising on social media using deepfakes and fake celebrity media images. Searches were conducted in Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria, and Israel with the support of Europol.
The organization's representatives noted that the scale of the operation was impressive: a complex network of cryptocurrency exchanges allowed the criminals to conceal the sources and flows of funds worth over €700 million. As a reminder, Europol and its partners previously dismantled the crypto mixer Cryptomixer, preventing further money laundering in the crypto space.
The investigation demonstrated that international coordination and information sharing between countries play a key role in combating cyber fraud. The outcome of this work not only resulted in the arrest of suspects and the seizure of assets, but also demonstrated the effectiveness of intergovernmental cooperation in digital financial security.
This case once again highlights the need for a cautious approach to cryptocurrency investments and the importance of verifying platforms before transferring funds.
