Law enforcement officers conducted 21 searches in the Moldovan capital, Chișinău, and dismantled five fraudulent call centers.

According to media reports, these call centers defrauded citizens of the USA and Canada by soliciting money under the guise of cryptocurrency investments. Eight individuals have been arrested in connection with the fraud and money laundering case.

The large-scale operation was carried out on October 9 by officers from the National Investigation Inspectorate and the Bălți police, with support from the "Fulger" special forces unit.

Investigators stated that members of the organized criminal group created fake platforms for trading digital assets. The suspects posed as international investment experts, misled clients regarding actual returns, and subsequently persuaded them to transfer large sums of money. The suspects hired dozens of people to work in call centers, including citizens of Cameroon, India, Israel, Nigeria, Georgia, and Ukraine. Personnel from the General Inspectorate for Migration and the Office for International Police Cooperation will verify their status.

During the searches, law enforcement officers seized cash, mobile phones, computer equipment, bank cards, documents, stamps, and signal-jamming devices. Additionally, at one of the locations, officers discovered a lie detector used by the organizers to screen hired staff.

According to law enforcement, the criminal enterprise generated massive profits for the organizers. Preliminary investigation data indicates that just one of the five call centers brought in approximately $2 million per month. All eight detainees have been placed in pre-trial detention. The investigation is ongoing.