Vitoria (EFE).- A gang that defrauded more than 3,000 people around the world of 100 million euros with non-existent cryptocurrencies has been dismantled. One person was arrested in the operation in Palma de Mallorca.
Operation “Mandoa” has been carried out by specialists in cybercrime from the Civil Guard of the Basque Country and directed by a Court of Vitoria.
The investigation began after a complaint from a person in Álava who was the victim of a scam when investing in cryptocurrencies. The Civil Guard followed the trail of money transfers that were addressed to a company located in Palma de Mallorca.
A detainee in Palma and investigated in Eastern countries
This company later made new transfers to countries outside the European Union, which was the final destination of the money. In addition to the arrested Balearic businessman, there are several defendants in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, Russia and Israel.
The members of the organization attracted clients through aggressive commercial strategies through the Internet, telephone calls, advertisements in newspapers and messages to mobile phones in which they promised high returns without risk.
Dismantled a gang for defrauding more than 3,000 people with cryptocurrencies. EFE/Marshal
When the contract was formalized to make the investments in cryptocurrencies, which normally ranged between 250 and 1,000 euros, the organization provided them with access to a website. There they could consult the benefits of their investment with false graphs created for this purpose.
Investors received phone calls in which the fake brokers told them of the “huge profits” achieved and encouraged them to continue with non-existent investments. Some of them even invested all their savings.
When the victim tried to recover the investment or the benefits, the gang asked for more money to be able to withdraw the funds. The excuses were the payment of taxes or the closing of annual balances, with which a second deception was produced.
mistrust promises
The Civil Guard has recalled that promises of obtaining a great benefit or guaranteed return without any type of risk and investment offers that are received online or by telephone without having requested them should be distrusted.
It also advises doing a little research before investing, looking for opinions and reputation of the websites before making investments, being wary of recently created pages, checking the address as it often contains spelling errors and not making contributions on platforms that have their registered office in tax havens.
If, despite these risks, you wish to make this type of investment, citizens are recommended to consult with the official bodies that periodically publish the websites that operate with irregularities. EFE