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Europol Leads Takedown of €700 Million Crypto Fraud Network Using Deep‑Fake Ads

The two‑phase crackdown struck laundering pipelines alongside the deep‑fake ad apparatus that funneled victims to bogus platforms.

Overview

  • Raids on October 27 in Cyprus, Germany and Spain led to nine arrests and seizures of cash, cryptocurrencies, bank accounts, digital devices and high‑value goods.
  • Investigators say the scheme ran fake trading portals and call centers that used social engineering to pressure thousands of victims into depositing funds.
  • Follow‑up actions on November 25–26 targeted affiliate marketers behind deep‑fake celebrity and political endorsements, with searches in Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany and Israel.
  • Europol and Eurojust coordinated cross‑border efforts with French and Belgian authorities, and asset tracing and recovery continue across multiple jurisdictions.
  • The operation forms part of a broader EU push that includes the shutdown of the Cryptomixer mixing service and earlier removal of more than 1,400 fraudulent trading sites.