Grand Pacific Trade Call Center Scam Newsletter No. 35

Another “brokerage opportunity” that ended in a police operation and criminal prosecution 

 The platform Grand Pacific Trade, which also operated under names such as InfinityCapitalG, CCG.Global, TopMarketCap, StockCM, and others, presented itself as a legitimate broker for trading in forex, stocks, cryptocurrencies, and other instruments. In reality, it held no licenses or regulatory approvals to engage in such activities. The scheme targeted citizens of Australia, Canada, the European Union, and other countries, and the entire system was carefully designed as a financial fraud. 

How did the scam work? 

The fraud was organized through call centers based in Belgrade, which used fake identities, specialized software, and virtual phone numbers. So-called “brokers” contacted victims around the world, persuading them to invest in fake market products through professionally designed websites. In reality, there was no trading at all — the funds were redirected directly to the fraudsters. 

Two registered companies in Belgrade, “Olympus Prime LLC” and “Asgard LLC,” were used as a front for the operation of the call centers. In this way, an illusion of legal business activity was created to conceal the traces of financial crime. 

What happened next? 

At the beginning of 2023, an international police operation codenamed “Infinity” was carried out under the leadership of Europol and the Australian Federal Police, in cooperation with local authorities. In Belgrade, more than 50 people connected to the case were arrested. During the arrests, significant amounts of money, real estate, and other assets suspected to originate from criminal activities were seized. 

An indictment has been filed against the suspects and is currently in the confirmation stage before the Higher Court in Belgrade. The Prosecutor’s Office for High-Tech Crime is conducting the case, and the seized assets are under temporary measures with the aim of later being used for victim compensation. 

Where are we now and what can victims do? 

At this stage, the criminal proceedings are ongoing, and the confirmation of the indictment is expected. Although this is a large and complex investigation, sufficient evidence has already been gathered to support allegations of fraud involving more than 127,000 individuals worldwide. The total estimated damage exceeds 7 billion dollars, and the precise amount is yet to be determined. 

Victims of this scam can claim compensation from the seized assets, but they must be registered as injured parties and represented by a licensed attorney in Serbia. Based on your documentation, the attorney will submit a claim to the court for compensation with statutory interest, attend hearings, and monitor the process through its conclusion. 

Once the proceedings are finalized, in addition to compensation, victims are also entitled to reimbursement of all legal costs, including attorney fees and accrued interest. 

If you have not yet checked your status in this case, it is important to do so as soon as possible. The rights of victims in such cases depend on timely involvement in the criminal proceedings and submission of compensation claims through an authorized legal representative. In the next stages of the process, it will be essential to secure the necessary documentation and follow the case before the competent court. 

Kine Regards, 

Your DefendMe Team