Albanian scammer shows no remorse as French victims count losses

In a Tirana cafe, a young man identified only as Jon, who once worked for a cryptocurrency investment scam center, expressed no remorse for his actions. "I don't see why I should have any qualms if people fall for it," he told AFP. Jon, who changed his name to protect his identity, admitted to earning 1,450 euros per month, plus bonuses, by impersonating an American and convincing potential victims to invest. He saw the job as an "excellent opportunity, very well paid," especially compared to Albania's minimum wage.

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I don't see why I should have any qualms if people fall for it

His career ended after six months when Albanian scam centers, including his workplace, were dismantled following an investigation by French police. The probe began after a 2023 complaint from an investor who lost 30,000 euros on a platform called universatrade.io. French investigators identified 19 French victims who collectively lost around 1.5 million euros.

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My job was to lure them in and convince them to invest

One victim, a businesswoman named Chantal, described how clicking on an investment ad led to a call from advisors. Initially investing 250 euros, she saw her money quadruple and was persuaded to invest more. "My daughter was getting married, I told myself I could make a little bit extra," she explained, eventually investing 80,000 euros. She researched the platforms and found them online, even seeing advisor profiles on LinkedIn and receiving a copy of one advisor's ID.

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My daughter was getting married, I told myself I could make a little bit extra

Chantal's situation soured in December when she attempted to withdraw 30,000 euros in cryptocurrency, despite her account showing 300,000 euros in gains. "That's when everything went down the drain," she said, realizing the problem even as the scammers continued their tactics.

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That's when everything went down the drain