Seven Arrested in International Investment Fraud Ring
Authorities from seven countries and Israel took more than 100 servers offline in an operation targeting online investment scams.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Financial Crime
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Law enforcement authorities from Germany, Cyprus, Finland, Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Israel arrested seven people in an international investment fraud operation, supported by Eurojust and Europol. Investigators estimate the damage at more than €4 million.
Why it matters
The operation targeted a company that allegedly supplied fraudulent trading websites to criminal groups, with call center operators allegedly persuading victims to hand over their savings. The case shows how cross-border coordination is being used against online investment scams that leave victims unable to withdraw alleged profits.
Seven people have been arrested, with three suspects (identified as M.P., I.H. and F.Z.) detained by Kosovo police after searches at five locations. The possibility of extraditing those arrested to Germany is being considered by the prosecutor's office in Itzehoe.
The players
Eurojust
The European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, which supports coordination of cross-border criminal investigations among member states.
Europol
The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, which supports law enforcement information sharing and operational coordination across Europe.
The details
The investigation began in 2022 after a German married couple reported that they had invested their savings through an online platform and could not withdraw alleged profits. Authorities seized cars, mobile phones, computers and other electronic devices during the Kosovo searches.
Timeline
September 2022: Two suspects were arrested after searches at 12 locations.
2022: The investigation began following the German couple's report.
May 2025: Eurojust reported the arrest of one suspect in Cyprus.
November 3, 2026: Seven arrests and server takedowns were carried out in the international operation.
Legal Context
The operation follows the established model of Europol and Eurojust coordinating multinational takedowns of cross-border financial crime networks. Its use of server takedowns alongside physical arrests reflects how investigators now pursue the technical infrastructure behind online investment scams.
Readers who have been approached by online investment platforms promising high returns should verify that the platform is regulated before depositing funds. Victims of similar schemes can report losses to their national police or financial regulator.
The takeaway
Online investment offers that promise returns but block withdrawals are a common sign of fraud, and checking a platform's regulatory status before investing can prevent significant losses.
Further reading
Explore more reporting in our Financial Crime section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by UA.
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