
Cryptocurrency fraud ring busted in Spain after laundering $540 million, Europol says
Europol said Spanish police led the operation against the criminal network, and that law enforcement agencies from France, Estonia and the United States were also involved.
Five people were arrested as a result of the operation, with three arrested on the Canary Islands and two in Madrid.
Europol, headquartered in The Hague, said the network allegedly used associates around the world to raise funds through cash withdrawals, bank transfers and crypto-transfers.
Investigators suspect the organisation of establishing a corporate and banking network based in Hong Kong, using payment gateways and user accounts in the names of different people and in different exchanges to receive, store and transfer criminal funds.
The investigation continues, added Europol.
($1 = 0.8527 euros)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Sun
40 minutes ago
- The Sun
Reason why you should never book a hotel or holiday on you laptop revealed
EXPERTS have revealed the reason why you should never book a hotel or holiday on your laptop. With summer upon us, many will be scouring the likes of and Expedia for a last-minute getaway. 1 But if you are thinking of booking a holiday on your laptop, you might want to think twice. That is because you could end up paying more than customers who booked the same deal via their smart phone. Hotel and holiday groups often have special deals for mobile and app users to help drive traffic to their websites. Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown, said it is the firms' business to "persuade you to download the app." "They can collect more of your data and target you more effectively to persuade you to book again." Mobile only pricing is also used as a marketing tool to help drive more sales. Tom Church, co-founder of discount code platform found a £16 price difference for the same hotel found on He said: "A hotel in Granada, the Pension Venecia Gomerez, was £163 per night on the computer, but on the mobile app it was £147 per night, £16 cheaper." Research by The Sun also found the booking website was offering mobile customers a £112 discount on a hotel in Benidorm if they booked via the app. The Hotel Flats Friends Mar Blau costs £412 on the website but £300 if you secure the deal on your phone. My dream pool was £40,000 so I DIYd my own 18ft version in February all for this summer heatwave - it's saved me £37,000 The same goes for Expedia, with mobile users getting a £150 discount on a stay at the Hotel Ronda House in Barcelona. It is worth noting that prices may vary depending on what time of year you booking your holiday. Martyn James, consumer expert, said: "It might seem illogical and strange, but booking using a phone app can get you a big discount. "Regardless, always check the app before you book - but make sure you look at the hotel's website or app direct too, in case they have even better rates." MORE HOLIDAY HACKS If you are planning a trip abroad this summer, it is important to be clued up so you don't risk loosing cash. For example, customers should avoid exchanging money at the airport as you face paying higher fees. Money exchange hubs at the airport tend to a captive market, so firms can charge a higher premium for using the service. Kara Gammell, personal finance expert at MoneySuperMarket, previously told The Sun: "Don't wait to buy your travel money at the airport as you will pay a premium. "And never pay for your currency with a credit card as paying on plastic means you'll be charged a 'cash advance fee." This fee is charged on ATM withdrawals but also on transactions such as online gambling and buying foreign currency. You should also be aware that banks tend to charge customers a fee for using their debit or credit card abroad. NatWest charges customers a 2.75% fee for spending your debit card abroad. But plenty of banks, such as Monzo, do not charge for this service. Are there other options to for spending abroad? There are several specialist cards that can give you a great exchange rate. These cards include travel credit cards and pre-paid cards which can let you pay abroad without fees or at a set exchange rate. Senior Consumer Reporter Olivia Marshall explains all the options. Travel credit cards: Travel credit cards allow you to spend money abroad without being hit by any fees or hidden charges. But, they may still charge you for taking cash out. We recommend the Halifax's Clarity Card as it won't charge you for using it abroad, nor are there any fees for withdrawing cash. But you will be charged interest if you don't repay your balance in full at a rate of 19.9 per cent. And you will be charged interest on cash withdrawals until your balance is paid off too, at a rate of between 19.9 and 27.95 per cent depending on your credit score. In other words, just because you are using plastic abroad doesn't mean you don't have to pay these credit cards off like you normally would. Always pay off your balance before the end of the month with these cards to make sure that any money you saved isn't wiped away by paying interest. For more on travel credit cards you can read our guide here. Pre-paid cards: An alternative to carrying cash around is to get a pre-paid card. These cards allow you to put a set amount of cash on the card at a fixed exchange rate. So if the rate is good at the moment, you can put money on your card and it will stay that rate when you are on holiday. Just keep in mind that these cards can sometimes have hidden costs and charges so be sure to read the small print.


BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
DJ Carey pleads guilty to fraud charges over fake cancer claims
Former Kilkenny hurler DJ Carey has pleaded guilty to 10 charges related to defrauding people out of money while pretending to have 54-year-old, who previously resided at The Drive, Newtown, Maynooth, County Kildare, made the pleas during an appearance at Ireland's Circuit Court where he was due to stand trial. A five-time All-Ireland winner and multiple All-Star, Carey is one of the most decorated and acclaimed hurlers to ever play the stood to enter guilty pleas on ten counts of dishonestly inducing people to pay him money after he fraudulently claimed to have cancer and needed finances for treatment. The court heard that one deception charge was being struck out while the remainder of the indictment would be taken into consideration by the sentencing was remanded on bail and is due to be sentenced on 29 October.


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Man has '$60,000 watch stolen from his wrist' while sitting in $350,000 Lamborghini during Spanish rally
A British man had his $60,000 watch stolen off his wrist as he sat in a $350,000 Lamborghini. Simone Mariella, 28, said her partner, Scott, was taking part in a supercar rally in Barcelona, Spain, when two crooks on an electric scooter targeted him on June 23. The 33-year-old was sitting stationary at traffic lights in the Lamborghini Aventador. Scott had his expensive timepiece pinched before the thief and his accomplice zoomed off on the e-scooter. He was unable to chase after them as he was stuck behind a similar supercar. Scott, originally from Scotland who now lives in Dubai, was taking part in the Modball Rally in Barcelona when the theft took place. Simone said her partner reported the theft to the police. Simone, who originally comes from Germany, said: 'My partner went to all the nearby shops and cafes to ask for CCTV images on the same day. But nobody helped him.' Luckily, they found an onlooker who filmed it. She added: 'He has emailed the police three times since.' Simone said: 'We posted it on social media to put pressure on the Spanish police and maybe get some information. Unfortunately, there hasn't been any update.' She posted the video on TikTok where it went viral. She captioned the clip: 'A [$60,000] watch stolen at a traffic light in Barcelona. Please share to help us find them.' One local said: 'The thief was faster than the Lamborghini.' Another claimed: 'Nobody should visit Barcelona, it's no longer a safe place.' A third added: 'It's not good, but at least he's not stealing from people who are going to go hungry.' Someone else chimed in: 'Ten years in Barcelona and I got robbed last week, they pulled the necklace from my neck in a few seconds.' Another said: 'Barcelona has been a cesspool for a long time now, and the authorities don't do anything!' The police have been approached for comment.