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The scheme that never dies: how fraudulent networks rise again after every hit
The network of fraudulent call centers in Tirana continues to attract attention in foreign media. The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) has dedicated an article to the recent police and prosecution action, which targeted several centers in Tirana that were defrauding citizens in Austria and other countries.
According to OCCRP, fraudulent call center networks in Tirana operate with well-organized structures and are difficult to dismantle, despite the intervention of the authorities.
According to the article, these centers operate like regular companies, with clear separation of roles and hierarchical management. They have dedicated teams for marketing, customer service, finance, and IT, while operators are organized into small groups that target different markets by language.
The scams mainly focus on fake online investments. Victims are lured in through convincing advertisements and then contacted by people who present themselves as financial advisors. Through constant communication and psychological pressure, they convince them to transfer significant amounts of money, which are never invested.
A key element is the use of the victim's language to build trust, as well as the use of software that gives the scammers access to their devices. In some cases, victims are contacted again with the promise of recovering funds, thus being scammed a second time.
OCCRP notes that the real organizers are often not physically located in these centers, but operate remotely through local managers. This allows networks to quickly relocate activity if a center is discovered.
The paper also highlights that these networks do not operate in isolation. They collaborate by sharing lists of victims, fraud techniques, and channels for transferring and laundering money, creating an interconnected criminal ecosystem.
According to OCCRP, the Western Balkans has become a fertile ground for these activities, due to a young and educated workforce, but with limited employment opportunities, while the activity is often disguised as a legitimate business.
Consequently, although police operations have led to arrests and seizures, experts estimate that their impact remains limited in the face of an industry that adapts quickly and operates on an international scale.
After almost two years of investigation and coordination, police discovered in mid-April three call centers involved in online investment fraud schemes. These facilities employed hundreds of young people, who made calls to European citizens, mainly from Germany and Austria, convincing them to invest in financial platforms that turned out to be fraudulent. After the victims deposited the money, it disappeared without a trace. 10 people were arrested and nearly 1 million euros in cash was seized. / Pamphlet
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