Last week, law enforcement agencies in Europe carried out a significant operation against a criminal network operating in Latvia. This led to the arrest of five individuals believed to be cybercriminals, with two more suspects also detained. Authorities executed a comprehensive strategy to dismantle the group’s infrastructure, which involved taking down five servers and confiscating 1,200 SIM-box devices along with 40,000 active SIM cards.
The alleged criminals provided a service known as cybercrime-as-a-service, which enabled others to engage in various types of digital fraud, including extensive investment scams. Investigators attribute over 1,700 cyber fraud cases in Austria and another 1,500 in Latvia to this network, with total losses amounting to several million euros. Notably, victims in Austria alone reported losses of around €4.5 million, while Latvian victims lost approximately €420,000.
The operation, dubbed SIMCARTEL, was coordinated by law enforcement agencies from Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Europol, and Eurojust. Authorities emphasized that the true dimension of the network remains to be fully revealed. It is believed that over 49 million online accounts were created through the illegal services offered by the suspects, incurring damages in the millions.
The infrastructure established by this group was exceptionally advanced, allowing individuals from various parts of the world to utilize SIM-box services to perform a wide array of telecommunications-related cybercrimes. The network provided access to telephone numbers registered in over 80 countries and created fictitious accounts on social media and communication platforms for illicit activities.
In total, European authorities executed 26 searches, resulting in the seizure of about 1,200 SIM boxes, all operational with 40,000 SIM cards. Additional confiscations included hundreds of thousands of SIM cards, five servers hosting the illegal network, and two websites that advertised the services offered by the group.
The operation also saw the freezing of approximately €431,000 in bank accounts and the seizure of $333,000 in cryptocurrency wallets associated with the suspects. Moreover, four luxury vehicles were confiscated from the individuals involved.
Officials highlighted that this criminal network furnished its clients with the anonymity required to commit significant offenses which would have been unfeasible without measures to obscure their identities. The dismantled group had taken considerable steps to enhance anonymity and scalability for its operations.
In addition to this crackdown, multiple European authorities have taken broader action against online fraud. More than 1,400 fraudulent trading platforms, which targeted retail investors, were shut down, following an earlier coordinated effort that resulted in the removal of around 800 illicit websites in June 2025.
This substantial effort showcases the ongoing commitment of international law enforcement to combat cybercrime and dismantle networks that exploit technological advancements for illegal gain. The ramifications of cybercrime extend beyond just financial losses, as personal data breaches impact real individuals, reminding us of the human aspect behind these statistics.