In a significant international law enforcement effort, 12 call centers involved in extensive phone fraud operations across Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Lebanon were shut down. This operation, known as “Operation PANDORA,” began in December 2023 and was supported by Europol. The crackdown led to the identification of 39 suspects and the arrest of 21 individuals. These centers were responsible for orchestrating thousands of scam calls daily, employing various fraudulent schemes to deceive victims.
The law enforcement actions were coordinated on April 18, involving dozens of German officers and hundreds from the other participating countries. During these raids, authorities confiscated a significant amount of evidence including data carriers, documents, cash, and other valuable assets estimated to be worth around €1 million. This coordinated effort not only dismantled the physical locations of these fraudulent operations but also captured critical electronic evidence that is expected to help identify additional fraudulent call centers and perpetrators.
The operations were initially triggered by a vigilant bank teller in Freiburg, Germany, who grew suspicious of a customer attempting to withdraw over €100,000, purportedly under the duress of a fake police scam. This alert led to a broader investigation which uncovered that the scammers had made over 28,000 fraudulent calls within a span of 48 hours. Subsequently, police intercepted and monitored real-time conversations from the crime ring’s call centers, successfully preventing over €10 million in potential damages by blocking 80% of all financial fraud attempts.
The crackdown on these call centers is part of a larger ongoing effort by European police forces to combat telecommunication fraud which targets individuals with various scams including fake lottery payouts, investment opportunities, and impersonation of law enforcement or bank officials. The operation highlights the critical importance of international cooperation in tackling complex, cross-border cybercrime and the effectiveness of proactive monitoring and quick response in preventing substantial financial losses for countless individuals.
