Dutch police warn of targeting 300 people in a massive cryptocurrency investment fraud and job review.
Dutch police warned 300 people nationwide that they were victims of large-scale investment schemes in cryptocurrencies and online job review scams, following an international investigation led by Coinbase and Europol.
The victims believed they were investing in cryptocurrencies or making money from working on reviews from home, but the police say their money was transferred to digital wallets controlled by criminals. The police have sent personal warning messages in collaboration with Slachtofferhulp Nederland.
The police described Coinbase as a legal platform for digital currencies similar to a bank, and reported suspicious activity and shared customer data with Europol, which then coordinated with law enforcement agencies in several countries. Authorities are still determining the exact amounts lost and the products involved.
Fraud through job reviews has also targeted people working from home, often young individuals. Initially, victims receive payments, but then they are asked to deposit additional funds, often under the promise of increased profits. Authorities warn that the chances of recovering stolen money are very low due to complex international wallet networks.
Rebecca Smeets from Slachtofferhulp Nederland emphasized the psychological impact on victims, noting that many feel shame and guilt and hesitate to talk about fraud. She also warned that recovery companies promising to return money are often scams themselves.