Everything You Need to Know About 'Scam Empire'

OCCRP, SVT, and partners’ “Scam Empire” investigation, based on 1.9 TB of leaked internal data, exposes two coordinated call-center fraud operations—A.K.Group in Georgia and a larger Israeli/European network—that used unlicensed trading platforms, VoIP, aggressive social engineering, forged documents, and convoluted payment channels (crypto, neobanks, front companies) to defraud at least **32,000** victims of over **$275 million** (2021–2025). The operations spanned multiple offices and vendors, employed CRM-driven sales processes and training, and in some cases used superficially licensed brands; offices shuttered after media outreach. The report documents extensive TTPs (impersonation, withdrawal obstruction, affiliate marketing, fund layering across jurisdictions) and offers practical guidance to avoid such scams.