Authorities shut down €50 million online fraud network running scam call centres in Albania

Austrian and Albanian authorities have dismantled a large online investment fraud network that caused more than €50 million in losses. The operation targeted several scam call centres in Tirana and led to 10 arrests.

The coordinated action took place on April 17, 2026, after an investigation that lasted more than two years. Eurojust and Europol supported the case, while authorities searched three call centres and nine private homes in Albania.

Investigators seized €891,735 in cash, 443 computers, 238 mobile phones, six laptops, and several storage devices. The digital evidence will now support further investigations into the wider network and its victims.

At a glance

Item	Details
Case type	Online investment fraud
Estimated losses	More than €50 million
Main location	Tirana, Albania
Action day	April 17, 2026
Arrests	10 people
Searches	Three call centres and nine private residences
Agencies involved	Austrian and Albanian authorities, supported by Eurojust and Europol

How the scam call centres worked

The fraud network operated like a legitimate business. Eurojust said the call centres had clear roles, team leaders, managers, and a hierarchical structure that resembled a real company.

Operators worked in language-based teams of six to eight people. The languages included German, English, Italian, Greek, and Spanish, which helped the fraudsters target victims in different markets with a more convincing approach.

The employees reportedly received a monthly salary of about €800. They also earned progressive commissions for successful scams, paid partly in cash and partly through bank transfers.

Victims were lured through fake investment offers

The scam began with deceptive online ads and fake investment platforms. Victims believed they were signing up for legitimate trading or investment services that could generate high returns.

After registration, callers posing as brokers or investment advisers contacted them by phone. These operators built trust, explained fake trading opportunities, and pushed victims to send more money over time.

The funds were not invested. Authorities said the suspects convinced victims to transfer significant sums while presenting the operation as a professional financial service.

A second scam targeted previous victims

The network also ran a recovery scam against people who had already lost money. This made the scheme more damaging because it exploited victims who were still trying to get their funds back.

Operators contacted previous victims under different usernames and pseudonyms. They claimed they could help recover the lost investments if the victims opened cryptocurrency accounts and made an initial €500 deposit.

This tactic gave the criminals another chance to extract money from the same people. It also made the fraud look more believable because victims were already searching for help after the first loss.

Timeline of the investigation

Date	Development
June 2023	Austrian authorities began receiving a high number of victim reports in Vienna.
2023 to 2026	Austrian and Albanian authorities conducted a joint investigation with Eurojust and Europol support.
April 17, 2026	Authorities carried out coordinated raids in Tirana, Albania.
April 29, 2026	Eurojust publicly announced the results of the operation.

What authorities seized

• €891,735 in cash
• 443 computers
• 238 mobile phones
• Six laptops
• Hard drives and DVRs for forensic examination

Europol experts helped preserve large volumes of digital evidence during the operation. Eurojust said the data will be shared with authorities in other affected countries as the investigation continues.

A Virtual Command Post was also used during the action day. This allowed participating teams to exchange data and evidence in real time while searches and arrests took place.

Why this case matters

The case shows how online investment fraud has become more organized. These were not isolated scammers working from a small setup. The network used employees, managers, scripts, technology, and cross-border coordination.

The language-based structure also made the fraud more effective. When victims hear someone speaking their own language and presenting themselves as a financial adviser, the scam can feel more credible.

Authorities also highlighted the role of cross-border cooperation. The victims, infrastructure, suspects, and financial flows did not sit inside one country, which made Eurojust and Europol support important to the final raids.

How people can avoid similar scams

• Check any investment platform with the official financial regulator in your country.
• Do not trust ads promising unusually high returns with low risk.
• Be cautious if a caller pressures you to invest more money quickly.
• Do not install remote access software for someone claiming to be an investment adviser.
• Do not pay recovery fees to unknown people who claim they can retrieve lost funds.
• Report suspected investment fraud to national police or a cybercrime authority.

FAQ