Global Credit Card Fraud Rings Raided in Europol-Backed Operation “Chargeback”

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Worldwide law enforcement action has targeted three fraud and money-laundering networks that defrauded an estimated €300 million ($346 million) from more than 4.3 million credit cardholders across 193 countries, according to Europol.

Europol said:

On the action day on 4 November 2025, coordinated measures were taken in Germany, the USA, Canada, Singapore, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands, with support from Europol and Eurojust. Numerous search warrants were executed, leading to the seizure of documents, data carriers and communication devices.

The operation—dubbed Operation Chargeback and led by the Cybercrime Department of the General Prosecutor's Office and the German Federal Criminal Police Office—saw 18 arrests across multiple jurisdictions. 

This included accusations of collusion by executives and compliance officers at four major German payment-service providers who allegedly facilitated the laundering of illicit payments. Investigators estimate the attempted fraud totaled over €750 million ($866 million).

The fraud scheme allegedly operated between 2016 and 2021, creating approximately 19 million fake online subscriptions to pornography, dating, and streaming services using stolen credit card data. Charges, typically around €50 ($58) per month and described vaguely in payment references, helped the criminals to go undetected. 

The networks also used shell companies mainly registered in the UK and Cyprus, via crime-as-a-service providers, to complicate detection and hinder credit card chargebacks.

Operation Chargeback is a testament to the power of international cooperation in dismantling complex criminal networks,

said Catherine De Bolle, Executive Director of Europol.