Armenia’s Investigative Committee has announced that a new criminal “call center” has been uncovered, within whose operations funds obtained through criminal means on an especially large scale were identified.

Based on information received from the National Security Service, the Investigative Committee’s Main Department for the Investigation of Particularly Important Cases, through its Cybercrime and High-Tech Crimes Division, initiated criminal proceedings on December 12 on charges related to creating or leading a criminal organization, participating in a criminal organization, and committing large-scale computer fraud.

During the preliminary investigation, as a result of extensive operational-search measures carried out by officers of the Yerevan City Directorate of the National Security Service at the “call center” used by the criminal organization, as well as at the apartment of one of the individuals involved, investigators discovered and seized more than approximately $80,000 allegedly obtained through criminal activity.

In addition to cash, law enforcement officers seized gold jewelry, computers, data storage devices, mobile phones with camera sections technically blocked, lists of numerous virtual phone numbers, call scripts, various messenger correspondences with victims, as well as photographs of victims’ passports and other personal data.

The preliminary investigation also led to the seizure of digital reports detailing the amounts stolen, charts showing the distribution of roles among members of the organization, and passwords, accounts, and transaction details for hundreds of cryptocurrency wallets.

The investigation is ongoing to identify the leaders and members of the criminal organization and to provide criminal-legal assessments of their actions.

A person accused of a crime is presumed innocent until their guilt is proven in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code by a court verdict that has entered into legal force.