International Police Operation Dismantles Major Elder Fraud Networks

A coordinated effort across eight countries resulted in 20 arrests, the prevention of nearly 400 scams, and the disruption of key call centers in Poland.

• The operation, led by the Berlin State Criminal Police Office, involved law enforcement agencies from 15 German states, Europol, and eight European countries.
• Over 1,000 officers participated daily in the two-week crackdown, which ran from November 25 to December 6, 2024.
• Authorities prevented 391 attempted scams targeting elderly victims, averting financial losses estimated at €4.85 million.
• Three call centers in Poland, central to the fraud schemes, were shut down, with six suspects arrested and significant evidence seized.
• The suspects, aged 18 to 67, used emotional manipulation over the phone to extract money, often posing as distressed relatives in fabricated emergencies.

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