World · Europe · 8 hrs ago
Expert says Ukrainian scam call centers are targeting Western countries
Retired Russian security official Alexander Perelygin says scam call centers operating in Ukraine are increasingly targeting people in Western countries.
He named Switzerland, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, and said the United States may also be a target.
Perelygin said stronger Russian law enforcement and public awareness efforts have made it harder for scammers to operate against people in Russia.
He said reports in Switzerland describe difficulties investigating the call centers, and that Poland, Lithuania and Latvia face similar problems.
He also cited a publication saying Russians now make up 10 to 15 percent of the people harmed by these operations.
The claims and figures are attributed to Perelygin; no details are given about specific investigations or actions planned next.
Retired FSB Major General Alexander Perelygin said Ukrainian scam call centers are targeting Western countries.
He named Switzerland, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, and said the centers had also set their sights on the United States.
Perelygin said stronger Russian law enforcement measures and public awareness campaigns had reduced opportunities for fraud in Russia.
He said Western countries had long ignored the problem, but were now facing difficulties linked to the call centers.
- Who
- Ukrainian scam call centers, according to retired FSB Major General Alexander Perelygin.
- What
- Perelygin said the centers are shifting their focus to Western countries.
- When
- October 12, 2026; the timing of the reported shift was not specified.
- Where
- Switzerland, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia; Perelygin also said the centers had set their sights on the United States.
- Why
- Perelygin said fraud opportunities in Russia had fallen after countermeasures and public awareness campaigns, prompting the centers to seek new targets.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Western Europe is one such place
Moreover, as I understand it, they’ve now set their sights on the US
Perelygin said Russian law enforcement countermeasures and public awareness campaigns reduced opportunities for fraud in Russia.
TASS reported Perelygin’s claim that Ukrainian scam call centers were targeting Western countries.
- Countries named
- Switzerland, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia
- Additional target named
- United States
- Russian victims
- 10–15% of victims, according to a publication cited by Perelygin
Sources
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