Tirana Prosecution Office concludes investigations and brings  B.B., K.D., J.J., A.Ll., E.A., Gj.R., and L.Sh. to trial for the criminal offense of 'Fraud'.

At the conclusion of the investigation into criminal case no. 8500 of 2023, it was revealed that these individuals, working together, carried out fraudulent activities at the premises of the company 'OZAR' sh.p.k., utilizing a well-organized scheme in the form of a call center. The case, initiated based on information gathered through operational channels from the General Directorate of Police, focused on both licensed and unlicensed entities involved in 'Forex' activities. Investigations proved that the defendants actively participated in executing the fraudulent scheme targeting foreign nationals, including Italian citizens L.C. and S.S., playing a key role in ensuring the smooth operation and continuation of the scam.

As a result of this proceeding, the relevant acts have been separated, and investigations are now continuing under a new case, numbered 8500/1, for the criminal offense of "Fraud" with serious consequences, as stipulated in Article 143/3 of the Criminal Code. Additionally, investigations are underway for the offense of "Laundering the proceeds from criminal activity”, as stipulated in Article 287 of the Criminal Code, in relation to other victims, in cooperation with foreign authorities.

The examination of the "WhatsApp" application on the seized phones revealed conversations with various individuals, registered under Italian names, who had sent photos of their identification cards as requested by the phone's user. The messages showed that these individuals were asked to send different amounts of money to be invested in the Forex market, with the promise of receiving significantly higher returns in exchange.
Specifically, the citizen registered as L.C. communicated via the "WhatsApp" application, informing the user that he had completed a transfer of 8,700 euros. This payment followed his signing of a contract that required him to invest 100,000 euros. As a result, on 29.11.2023, he made the bank transfer, which was noted in the description as a loan. Subsequent conversations revealed that this individual expressed concerns, claiming that the entire operation appeared to be a large-scale scam. On 13.12.2023, he was again asked to make another transaction of 3,500 euros, with the justification that it was a penalty for the delayed first transfer.
Regarding the specific fraudulent activity conducted within the call center premises, it was determined that the defendants acted with deliberate intent and for financial gain. They were fully aware of the deceptive nature of their actions, which involved contacting foreign clients with fake Forex investment schemes. The defendants repeatedly followed the same fraudulent mechanism to unlawfully obtain money, with no intention of returning it.

Gj.R., an employee at "Ozar" Ltd., was actively involved in tracking clients and coordinating the work of the operators. L.Sh. held a senior functional role within the company's internal structure, providing instructions and assigning tasks. E.A. served as the legal administrator of "Ozar" Ltd., in this fraudulent scheme, and his responsibility stems from his failure to act appropriately as an administrator, as he allowed the company to be used for illegal activities without taking the necessary preventive measures. A.Ll. was directly involved in the fraudulent actions and supported the operators carrying out the scheme. B.B. and K.D. were present at "Ozar" during the police intervention and were fully aware of the fraudulent nature of the activity taking place at the premises, while J.J. was the main person responsible for overseeing and resolving the technical issues faced by the operators and supervisors.

As per the above, it has been established that the defendants, acting in complicity with each other and on multiple occasions, have fulfilled all the elements of the criminal offense of "Fraud" as stipulated in Article 143/2 of the Criminal Code.