Cybercrime Southeast Europe Newsletter No. 8
Cybercrime Southeast Europe- recovery of lost money
Dear clients,
Calls to the victims to give testimony over the past weeks mark an important step in the investigative process. These testimonies can provide crucial information necessary for furthering the course of the investigation. This direct interaction with the victims enables a deeper understanding of the fraud scheme and the identification of key points for further action.
Unfortunately, the Western Balkans region is often targeted by various forms of fraud. One of the key strategies in combating these frauds is educating citizens about safe internet usage and recognizing scams.
If you have become a victim of internet fraud or have information about potential perpetrators, do not hesitate to contact the relevant authorities. Your contribution can be crucial in combating this type of crime and protecting other citizens from future scams. Through joint efforts, we can create a safer environment for all of us.
The work of the Serbian prosecuting authorities.
In early 2023, the Belgrade Prosecutor’s Office for High-Tech Crime and the police successfully carried out an operation against cybercrime. The second part of the international operation “Infiniti” was launched to combat financial fraud on the internet. In cooperation with Europol and the Australian Federal Police, 16 individuals were arrested.
The suspects are charged with computer fraud, money laundering, and forming criminal associations. By setting up fake websites, they encouraged investors to invest money in their projects that did not actually exist. During searches of 16 locations in Belgrade and other parts of Serbia, over 130,000 euros in cash, 70,000 euros in cryptocurrencies, as well as several vehicles and one apartment were seized. The origin of other assets is being investigated.
In the first part of the operation, significant evidence was found in the companies “Olympus Prime” and “Asgard” d.o.o. in Belgrade. It is suspected that employees in these companies defrauded over 127,000 people from other countries, with a total damage of over 7 billion dollars. The final amount of damage is still being determined.
Zoran Miljaković, Attorney