Portuguese police have arrested 64 people in connection with a large-scale cybercrime and money laundering scheme that authorities say caused losses of around €14 million.
The arrests followed 73 home searches carried out across the country by PJ criminal police through its National Unit for Combating Cybercrime and Technological Crime (UNC3T). In a statement to the press, the police force says it believes the suspects were part of a transnational organised group specialising in online fraud, qualified swindling, and money laundering through phishing schemes.
The investigation was conducted by a joint team coordinated by Portuguese and Swedish police, with support from Europol and Eurojust. Authorities in Sweden also carried out parallel operations.
According to investigators, the scheme targeted Swedish victims, most of them over the age of 65. They were deceived into revealing banking access codes, which allowed the group to transfer money without authorisation to accounts in Portugal and other countries. The funds were then moved and disguised to avoid detection.
Police say the core members of the group, Swedish nationals based in Portugal, not only carried out the fraud but also recruited dozens of so-called “money mules” who opened or handed over control of bank accounts to help conceal and transfer the illicit profits.
During the searches, investigators seized computers, documents, luxury cars, expensive jewellery, and high-value watches believed to be linked to the criminal activity.
The 64 suspects are due to appear before the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Lisbon for initial questioning. The case is being led by the Lisbon District Prosecutor’s Office (DIAP).
