Police arrest seven in international cybertrading fraud crackdown

Authorities in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, have dismantled an international cybercrime group accused of defrauding investors of millions of euros through fake online trading platforms. The investigation, which began following a complaint from a couple near Kiel, revealed that the group lured victims with promises of high returns on cryptocurrencies, foreign exchange, and stocks.

Law enforcement conducted raids across Israel, Albania, Kosovo, Cyprus, North Macedonia, and Finland, seizing over 100 servers, various pieces of evidence, and assets. Seven suspects have been arrested under European arrest warrants with the intent of extradition to Germany. Additionally, investigators are looking into six other individuals suspected of operating or working in call centers located in Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia.

This operation follows previous actions in 2022 and 2025, which resulted in the conviction of three suspects sentenced to between three and five years in prison. In Schleswig-Holstein alone, 290 cases of this nature have been reported since August 1.