Criminal activities in the economic sector during the year 2024, including those linked to organized crime networks.
In a concerted effort to combat organized crime and economic fraud, the Baden-Württemberg Police have been taking a firm stance against these illegal activities.
In 2024, the police force conducted 248 investigations in the preliminary stages of organized crime, a slight increase from the previous year. The focus in these investigations was primarily on drug crime and property crime, with half of the investigations related to drug crime. Additionally, nine investigations were attributed to cybercrime.
One significant development came in a proceeding for organized and professional fraud, where a German phone number associated with approximately 1.2 million fraudulent calls was identified. This discovery led to the prevention of over 6,000 crimes and further damages of about eleven million euros through active preventive measures. The phone number was part of a server structure that allowed illegal call centers in at least six countries to anonymously contact people in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
The authorities of the affected countries, the Federal Criminal Police Office, and Europol raided and dismantled a total of twelve illegal call centers in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Lebanon, and Serbia in April 2024. This resulted in the shutdown of the entire criminal IT infrastructure.
Economic crimes, however, saw a significant increase in 2024, rising by around 36 percent to 5,524 cases. Despite this increase, the financial damage from economic crimes decreased by approximately 57 percent to around 265 million euros. This decrease is largely attributed to the successful investigations and preventive measures undertaken by the Baden-Württemberg Police.
The police in Baden-Württemberg continue to carry out preventive measures to inform a wide audience about current fraud methods and modi operandi. They regularly share information via their social media channels and provide behavioural guidelines and tips for fraudulent call crimes.
Moreover, the Cybercrime Center Baden-Württemberg collaborated with international partners, including US authorities, in combating cybercrime. Notably, they dismantled the Hive ransomware network and issued a European arrest warrant against a key international suspect.
In the fight against organized crime and economic fraud, Baden-Württemberg remains committed to protecting its citizens and ensuring a safe and secure environment for all.
