The National Crime Agency (NCA) announced the shutdown of Russian Coms, a platform used by criminals worldwide to defraud victims.
Established in 2021, Russian Coms is linked to financial losses amounting to tens of millions, with an estimated 170,000 UK victims.
The platform allowed criminals to disguise their identity by appearing to call from trusted numbers of financial institutions and law enforcement agencies, leading to over 1.3 million scam calls to 500,000 unique UK phone numbers. Victims reported an average loss of over £9,400.
Russian Coms offered services like voice-changing and encrypted calls, marketed via social media. The NCA arrested three individuals linked to the platform’s development, and joint actions with international law enforcement partners, supported by Europol, are ongoing.
Adrian Searle, Director of the National Economic Crime Centre, emphasized the significance of targeting both the criminals and the technology they exploit. This crackdown highlights the NCA’s commitment to combating technology-enabled fraud, constituting over 80% of fraud cases in England and Wales.
