Bank help desk con artists in Groningen, Amsterdam arrested over €1.7 million scam
Eight suspects were arrested across Groningen, IJsselstein, Zwijndrecht and Amsterdam in two coordinated enforcement actions tied to a crypto and bank helpdesk fraud network linked to more than 40 complaints and at least 1.7 million euros in reported losses, Dutch police said.
According to police, the group used a two-step scam. Victims were first contacted through phishing text messages and then called by offenders posing as bank employees warning of suspicious transactions. Victims were instructed to install software including AVG antivirus and AnyDesk, which allowed the scammers to view screens and access crypto wallets.
In some cases, suspects also called victims while posing as crypto exchange staff, claiming wallets were infected and urging transfers to a “safe wallet” controlled by the scammers.
On Wednesday, March 4, police caught three suspects in the act: two 23-year-old men from Groningen and IJsselstein and a 26-year-old man from Zwijndrecht.
At the same time, officers arrested a 24-year-old woman from Amsterdam and a 39-year-old man from Groningen. The remaining three suspects — two men aged 27 and 29 and a 33-year-old woman, all from Groningen — were arrested on Monday, March 9.
Police searched multiple residences, a vehicle and a commercial property linked to the suspects. Investigators seized several data carriers, hardware wallets and luxury goods. Officers also found and confiscated a firearm and multiple rounds of ammunition.
Authorities said earlier investigations initially ran separately across different police units after dozens of victims filed reports. The cases were later combined, revealing a single coordinated criminal group and prompting a joint operation to arrest suspects simultaneously.
