Europol Busts SIM Card Cybercrime Ring, Seizes Crypto

Europol, in collaboration with Eurojust and investigators from Austria and Latvia, has successfully taken down a sophisticated cybercrime network operating from Latvia that provided criminal services on an international scale. The network, operating under the codename SIMCARTEL, maintained what Europol described as “technically highly sophisticated” infrastructure, including 1,200 SIM box devices and 40,000 SIM cards that were distributed to fraudsters worldwide. This cybercrime-as-a-service model allowed criminals in over 80 countries to obtain telephone numbers specifically for creating fake internet and social media accounts, effectively concealing their true identities and locations while conducting illegal activities.

The scope of criminal activity facilitated by SIMCARTEL was extensive, with investigators attributing over 1,700 cyber-fraud cases to the network in Austria alone, where losses totaled $5.2 million. In Latvia, authorities documented approximately 1,500 cases with losses amounting to $487,663. The network’s services enabled a wide range of criminal activities including phishing and smishing campaigns, various forms of fraud, extortion, migrant smuggling, and even the distribution of child abuse material. More specific criminal methods included marketplace fraud, ‘new-number’ WhatsApp scams, investment fraud schemes, and the creation of fake shopping and banking websites designed to deceive victims.

The international operation resulted in seven arrests and significant asset seizures that demonstrate the network’s profitability and operational scale. Beyond the massive haul of SIM cards and devices, authorities seized five servers hosting the network’s online infrastructure and two websites that advertised its criminal services to potential users. The takedown also netted four luxury vehicles and “hundreds of thousands” of additional SIM cards, indicating the network’s capacity for continued expansion. Financial seizures included $330,000 in cryptocurrency and $500,000 frozen in suspect bank accounts, though Europol did not specify which particular crypto tokens were confiscated.

The simultaneous seizure of both traditional financial assets and cryptocurrency reflects law enforcement’s evolving approach to combating modern cybercrime networks that increasingly utilize multiple financial channels. The $330,000 crypto seizure, while substantial, represents only a portion of the network’s proceeds, with the frozen bank accounts containing an additional $500,000. This multi-pronged financial investigation approach demonstrates how international law enforcement agencies are adapting to criminal networks that operate across both traditional and digital financial ecosystems.

Europol’s action against SIMCARTEL occurs amid a broader increase in internationally coordinated efforts to combat cybercrime networks that increasingly utilize cryptocurrency for storing and moving illicit proceeds. The operation follows similar large-scale actions by international law enforcement agencies, including Interpol’s September operation that seized $97 million in cryptocurrency as part of a broader $439 million seizure across 40 countries. In August, another Interpol action focused on Africa resulted in the arrest of 1,200 individuals and the dismantling of 25 crypto mining facilities alongside the seizure of $97.4 million.

The trend extends beyond Western law enforcement agencies, with NGOs reporting on the “growing role” cryptocurrency plays in criminal activities in regions like the Western Balkans, where drug-trafficking groups are increasingly using digital assets to hide and move their profits. The SIMCARTEL case exemplifies how cybercrime networks are leveraging both traditional telecommunications infrastructure and emerging financial technologies to conduct global operations. The network’s ability to provide services across 80 countries while utilizing cryptocurrency for financial operations illustrates the borderless nature of modern cybercrime and the challenges this presents for traditional law enforcement jurisdictions.

As criminal networks become more sophisticated in their use of both communication technologies and financial tools, international law enforcement cooperation has become increasingly crucial. The collaboration between Europol, Eurojust, and national investigators from Austria and Latvia in the SIMCARTEL case demonstrates the coordinated approach required to tackle networks that operate across multiple jurisdictions. The successful takedown, while significant, represents just one front in the ongoing battle against cybercrime networks that continue to evolve their methods and expand their global reach.