{"id":49232,"date":"2025-09-24T10:16:50","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T10:16:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/?p=49232"},"modified":"2025-09-24T10:16:50","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T10:16:50","slug":"europes-crypto-head-hunters-bring-down-100m-crypto-scam-operation-in-23-countries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/?p=49232","title":{"rendered":"Europe\u2019s Crypto Head Hunters Bring Down $100M Crypto Scam Operation in 23 Countries"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A pan-European crypto scam worth over \u20ac100M ($118M) has been broken up, according to Eurojust. Fraudsters lured investors through subtle, nefarious platforms, rerouted their money to Lithuanian accounts, and vanished once withdrawals were requested.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe alleged mastermind is suspected of large-scale fraud and money laundering,\u201d Eurojust said in its Sept. 22 announcement.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

My plan at the start of 2025 was to flee to Central Europe<\/a>, what could go wrong? Apparently, this is one of the many things that could go wrong.<\/p>\n

The fraud had been active since at least 2018 and had spread to Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and beyond.<\/p>\n

Europe Crypto Scam: Who Was Involved in Taking It Down?<\/h2>\n
\"Eastern
(Source: Chainalysis<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Five suspects were arrested during coordinated raids in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Romania, and Bulgaria. Eurojust and Europol coordinated the action with local prosecutors and anti-corruption units. Assets, including\u00a0bank accounts<\/a> tied to the scheme, were frozen across multiple jurisdictions<\/span>.<\/p>\n

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(Source: Chainalysis<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Europol, which joined the investigation in 2020, deployed a crypto expert to help seize digital assets. This is now the largest coordinated takedown of crypto fraud in EU history.<\/p>\n

Why Does Crypto Fraud Keep Surging in Europe?<\/h2>\n

Crypto fraud is moving in step with the market. Glassnode data<\/a> shows Bitcoin wallet activity up nearly 20%+ year-over-year, a surge that brings new targets for scammers.<\/p>\n

A recent Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime report flagged the Western Balkans as a hub for laundering digital proceeds. Russia\u2019s central bank counted over 1,000 crypto pyramid schemes in six months.<\/p>\n

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(Source: Chainalysis<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Europol now pegs investor losses from separate fraud cases at more than \u20ac460M since 2020.<\/p>\n

What Does This Mean for Investors and Markets? How To Stay Safu From Scams<\/h2>\n

Investors should remain wary of polished pitches and \u201cguaranteed\u201d returns. While fraud undercuts retail trust, it also pressures regulators to tighten frameworks, and NO ONE wants to go through Biden 2.0 again.<\/p>\n

Europe\u2019s response shows scams are being met with full-scale law enforcement, not just warnings.<\/p>\n

EXPLORE: Black Swan Alert: What To Expect From Trump UN Speech?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord Here For The Latest Market Updates<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n