Prosecutor's Office of Georgia Issues Statement on Global Fraud Scheme
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, April 14, 2023
The Prosecutor's Office of Georgia issued a statement responding to Eurojust regarding the special operations held in several countries, including Georgia.
According to the information of the prosecutor's office, the planned investigative activities were carried out simultaneously in several countries: Bulgaria, Romania, Israel and Georgia, as a result of which 5 persons involved in possible crimes were arrested in the territory of another country.
The investigation with international cooperation in the case continues in order to identify and expose the members of the criminal group, as well as other natural or legal persons engaged in similar activities.
"We would like to respond to the statement issued by Eurojust today regarding a special operation held in several countries, including Georgia, aimed at identifying fraudulent online platforms and persons involved in crime.
One of these operations was held in March of this year, to identify the persons involved in the crime, whose actions caused 89 million euros of damage to at least 33,000 victims, citizens of different European countries.
The criminal fraud network, which allegedly operated in the period of 2019-2021, through advertisements placed on social media and other public spaces and so-called call centers, promised citizens benefits from investing in various European countries. Victims lost their investments, which were distributed to the bank accounts of the criminals.
The operation held in Georgia was led by the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia, in coordination with the Liaison Prosecutor of Georgia in Eurojust.
The planned investigative activities were carried out simultaneously in several countries, such as Bulgaria, Romania, Israel and Georgia, as a result of which 5 persons involved in possible crimes were arrested in the territory of another country.
Also, the persons in contact with the alleged crime were questioned, and a lot of documents and electronic information carriers were seized.
The investigation and international cooperation in the case continues in order to identify and expose the members of the criminal group, as well as other natural or legal persons engaged in similar activities," the statement reads.
