Criminal Call Centre Dismantled in Latvia
Latvian authorities, working with international partners, have dismantled a criminal call centre that operated as part of a wider network responsible for large-scale fraud across Europe. The centre is believed to have been used to coordinate scams targeting thousands of victims and to manage financial transfers through anonymous or fake accounts.
According to preliminary information, the call centre employed multiple operators who posed as bank officials and investment advisers, persuading victims to share personal data or transfer money to supposedly secure accounts. In reality, the funds were channelled through a network of shell companies and cryptocurrency wallets before disappearing abroad.
The operation was carried out jointly by the Latvian State Police, Europol, and Eurojust, with investigative input from Estonia and Austria. The raids led to several arrests and the seizure of computer equipment, mobile phones, and documents that will be used to trace the flow of money.
Authorities estimate that the network defrauded victims of more than 5 million euros, with over 3,000 people affected across the Baltic region and Central Europe.
Investigators say the dismantled centre was linked to organised groups also suspected of violent crimes, including extortion and arson. The arrests follow months of joint surveillance, data analysis, and information sharing between European law enforcement agencies.
Officials stressed that the case highlights the growing sophistication of call-based fraud networks, which often operate across multiple jurisdictions. “These scams are no longer small, local operations,” said one investigator. “They are structured, multilingual enterprises that require international cooperation to stop.”
The Latvian police described the operation as a significant blow to the region’s cybercrime infrastructure and confirmed that further arrests are expected as the investigation continues.
