On the 25 February 2026, a specialized police operation targeting a serious cross-border fraud scheme was successfully conducted by a Joint Investigation Team composed of Bulgarian and Romanian law enforcement authorities, with the support of the Southeast European Law Enforcement Center (SELEC).
The joint investigation, code-named VOICES 2 resulted in the identification and prosecution of the perpetrators responsible for seven telephone fraud cases.
A total of 13 individuals have been detained and brought before the competent judicial authorities. Several suspects were previously known for involvement in similar criminal activities.
Throughout the course of the investigation, extensive procedural and investigative measures were undertaken on the territories of both Republic of Bulgaria and Romania. Searches were carried out at six residential addresses and in seven motor vehicles. As a result, approximately 40 mobile phones, SIM cards and related accessories, tablets, gold jewelry, and other items connected to the criminal activity were discovered and seized. The evidence collected to date indicates a well-structured criminal scheme and a consistent modus operandi.
Between 12.06- 07.08.2025, the perpetrators deceived victims of various ages from multiple regions across Bulgaria, causing them financial damages. The fraudulent scenarios employed were characteristic to the so-called “telephone scams.”
In certain cases, victims were misled into believing they were assisting police authorities in apprehending fraudsters. In other instances, they were falsely informed that a close relative required urgent medical treatment or emergency surgery. Additional victims were deceived through fabricated stories of serious road traffic accidents involving family members.
As a direct result of the effective inter-institutional coordination and timely operational response, more than 50 additional telephone fraud attempts were successfully prevented.
The investigation remains ongoing under the supervision of the competent prosecutorial authorities.
