Germany broadens probe into international suspected online fraud: Three suspects seized in Romania, handed over to German authorities
In a significant development in a cross-border investigation, three suspects were arrested in Romania as part of an ongoing operation against an internationally operating fraud group. The investigation, spearheaded by the Nuremberg Criminal Police and the Bavarian Cybercrime Center, began in August 2023 and has been ongoing since.
According to the Bavarian State Office of Criminal Investigation, the fraud began with phishing emails, through which the perpetrators gained access to data and control of merchant accounts of a large online retailer. The group is suspected of defrauding a large number of victims worldwide via the internet from at least November 2022 until recently.
Many customers placed orders, believing they were purchasing a special offer from reputable online retailers. The perpetrators offered various goods, such as televisions or gaming consoles, at greatly reduced prices on these accounts. However, the buyers were then persuaded to pay the purchase price in advance, but the fraudsters had no intention of shipping the offered goods.
On June 24, 2025, around 60 officers, including personnel from the Executive Centre for Combating Cybercrime (ECC), prosecutors from the Central Office of the Federal Prosecutor General (ZCB), and forces from D.I.I.C.O.T., searched seven locations in Sibiu, Ramnicu Valcea, and Dragasani. Numerous electronic devices were seized during the searches and are currently being analyzed.
A 'Joint Investigation Team' (JIT) was established via Eurojust, involving authorities from different EU member states. The JIT succeeded in identifying three additional suspects, advancing preparations for their arrest. Three suspects were arrested in Romania: a man aged 44, a man aged 32, and a man aged 27. They have been in custody since then.
To date, the perpetrators have taken control of over 400 online merchant accounts, on which orders totaling over 100 million euros have been placed. The online retailers whose accounts were taken over have suffered significant financial damage due to blocked merchant accounts and negative reviews from fake customers. Some retailers have even had to cease their economic activities as a result.
The investigators assume that many cases are still unknown, so the dark figure may be much higher. The three suspects arrested by the General Prosecutor's Office in Bamberg on July 31, 2025, are not named or identified in the available search results. Press inquiries can be directed to Senior Public Prosecutor Goger at the General Prosecutor's Office Bamberg.
Investigations in this complex, cross-border case continue. The Bavarian State Office of Criminal Investigation warns all online shoppers to be vigilant and cautious when making purchases, especially if the prices seem too good to be true.
