The Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Prosecution Structure (SPAK) said searches were conducted at a call centre and four apartments in Tirana in cooperation with France’s gendarmerie in Pau, as part of an investigation into suspected computer fraud and money laundering.

The probe was launched following information shared via Eurojust on alleged scams targeting French citizens through cryptocurrency investments.

French prosecutors are investigating losses of about 845,400 euros involving four complainants, with total damages rising to around 1.1 million euros when additional identified victims are included, SPAK said.

Authorities said victims were approached by individuals using false identities and persuaded to invest via an online platform.

The joint investigation enabled tracing of cryptocurrency transfers, leading to the identification of several suspects, including Albanian nationals believed to have facilitated the movement of funds.

During the operation, officials seized computers, mobile phones, cryptocurrency “cold wallets”, cash and other evidence. Analysis is ongoing, SPAK said.

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SPAK said suspects used fraudulent online platforms to persuade Italian and other European victims to invest in cryptocurrencies. Six people were caught in the act and two others detained under court orders, while searches were carried out at 28 locations by investigators and police.

The probe was launched on Jan. 9 after material was submitted by journalists from the Italian investigative programme Le Iene, SPAK said.

Investigators identified a call centre in central Tirana that operated in several European languages and employed security measures to evade detection. Equipment was moved overnight after organisers were alerted, but investigators tracked and seized computer systems, documents and vehicles, including a luxury car, SPAK said.

Investigations are continuing in cooperation with foreign authorities to identify all victims.

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