Europol dismantles a major crypto investment fraud ring in Spain, defrauding 5,000+ victims globally and laundering €460M through shell companies, crypto and banking channels

The operation, supported by authorities in France, Estonia, and the U.S., led to five arrests and uncovered the use of fake investment platforms and romance scams to lure victims. The group operated an elaborate laundering infrastructure involving cash withdrawals, international transfers, and crypto-to-fiat conversions. Europol deployed a crypto specialist to trace blockchain transactions and warned of the increasing threat posed by AI-driven fraud schemes…