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   Europol takes down crypto and laundering network worth 700 million   
      
   Date:   
   Fri, 05 Dec 2025 19:10:00 +0000   
      
   Description:   
   A two-stage campaign resulted in the arrest of nine and the seizure of cash,   
   crypto, and other valuables.   
      
   FULL STORY   
      
   Europol and multiple national law enforcement agencies recently took down a   
   cryptocurrency and money laundering network worth more than 700 million. The   
   network extended to multiple countries, and spanned fake exchange platforms,   
   fake customer support centers, and fake affiliate marketing infrastructure.    
      
   The takedown resulted in more than a million dollars in seized assets, and    
   the arrest of nine suspects.    
      
   What began as an investigation into a single fraudulent cryptocurrency   
   platform gradually unfolded into a complex, far-reaching operation, revealing   
   a vast network of deceit and money laundering, Europol said.    
      
   Second phase - affiliate marketing   
      
   In a press release shared earlier this week, the police agency explained that   
   the operation was split into two parts. In the first part, coordinated police   
   raids were executed in Cyprus, Germany, and Spain.    
      
   In these raids, the police seized around $930,000 in bank accounts, around   
   $500,000 in cryptocurrencies, and around $350,000 in cash. They also seized   
   digital devices, high-value watches, and arrested nine people suspected of   
   laundering the cryptos stolen through fake investment and trading platforms .    
      
   The crooks would develop fake crypto investment platforms, lure thousands of   
   victims with sophisticated advertising, and then repeatedly contact them   
   through criminal call centers to pressure them into investing even more.    
      
   In the second phase, the operation focused on affiliate marketing   
   infrastructure that supported the online scam. Coordinated actions were taken   
   against the companies and suspects behind fraudulent advertising campaigns on   
   social media platforms, the announcement reads.    
      
   This is the kind of advertising that promises high returns on low    
   investments, with zero to no risk. In many instances, they include deepfake   
   videos of celebrities, politicians, and tech gurus such as Donald Trump, Elon   
   Musk, or Michael Saylor. Europol says that just the data of potential   
   investors obtained this way is vital to the functioning of the crypto-scam   
   industry.    
      
   ======================================================================   
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/europol-takes-down-crypto-and-launderin   
   g-network-worth-700-million   
      
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