Two young men have been arrested in Albania over an alleged attempt to obtain €100,000 from Albanian Football Federation President Armand Duka by impersonating Socialist lawmaker Taulant Balla on the Signal messaging app, according to investigative sources.

The suspects allegedly first asked Duka to transfer the money in cryptocurrency before agreeing to receive it in cash. Duka reported the case to police after suspecting he was being targeted in a scam.

Police later used an undercover officer posing as Duka’s son to arrange the alleged cash handover in Elbasan, where the two suspects lived. Officers intervened during the meeting and arrested them.

Investigators are continuing to examine whether others were involved in the alleged scheme. Sources say attention has focused on Florian Gjergji, although his alleged involvement remains under investigation and has not been established by a court.

The two suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a final court decision.