Скриншот видео KAS
Polish authorities have announced the dismantling of an international criminal group involved in laundering funds obtained through fraud. As part of the investigation, 13 people were detained — citizens of Poland, Ukraine and Belarus.
The criminal activity was stopped by officers of Poland’s National Revenue Administration (KAS) and the Central Cybercrime Bureau, under the supervision of the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Lodz.
According to KAS, the suspects created an organised infrastructure for laundering money stolen through financial scams, including through an extensive network of cryptocurrency exchange points operating in Poland and other European Union countries.
The investigation was conducted by officers of the Customs and Fiscal Control Service of the Lower Silesian Customs and Fiscal Office in Wroclaw, together with the Lodz division of the Central Cybercrime Bureau. It was established that the perpetrators organised a fake call centre whose employees called citizens while posing as bank staff. During the calls, they reported alleged attacks on bank accounts and persuaded victims to urgently transfer money to so-called technical accounts to “secure their funds”. In reality, the money was transferred to accounts controlled by members of the group.
The results of the investigation showed that the stolen funds were introduced into legal circulation through bank accounts registered to front persons, as well as through companies that formally conducted lawful activities. After laundering, the money was transferred to foreign bank accounts or invested in cryptocurrencies.
Operational measures were carried out in the Lower Silesian, Greater Poland, Masovian, Lesser Poland, Silesian and Pomeranian voivodeships. A total of 13 people were detained, including citizens of Poland, Ukraine and Belarus.
For 10 of the suspects, the court ordered pre-trial detention for three months. They are accused of participation in an organised criminal group, committing numerous fraud offences and money laundering. The suspects face up to 15 years in prison.
Law enforcement agencies also identified and seized property worth a total of 2.6 million zlotys, which, according to investigators, is directly linked to the criminal activity.