On May 10, 2024, the Prosecutor General’s Office announced that, pursuant to the decision of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Armenia Anna Vardapetyan, the request of the competent authorities of the Federal Republic of Germany had been granted, and M.B., accused of committing large-scale fraud as part of a criminal organization, had been extradited to the competent authorities of Germany to face criminal prosecution for fraud committed in Germany through a “call center” scheme.

The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), a renowned international investigative journalism organization specializing in exposing organized crime and corruption, has covered the judgment delivered in Germany in this case, presenting the circumstances surrounding both the investigation and the subsequent proceedings.

M.B., one of the principal organizers of the “call center” fraud scheme, was sentenced by a German court to seven years and six months of imprisonment. The court also ordered the confiscation of €2.4 million obtained through criminal activity. The convicted individual admitted guilt.

According to the court judgment, the fraud caused approximately €8 million in damages to victims in Germany. In addition, by supplying specialized software to other criminal groups for the purpose of committing similar fraud schemes, a further approximately €42 million in damages was caused.

Thus, by granting the request of the competent authorities of Germany, the Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Armenia contributed to the effective administration of international criminal justice and to the fight against organized cybercrime.