Azerbaijani authorities have brought 11 Azerbaijani nationals, alleged to be involved in a cyberfraud network in Ukraine, back to Azerbaijan after detaining them in Ukraine as part of a joint operation with their local counterparts. Four of those brought back are alleged to have organised the network, and were on an international wanted list, according to Azerbaijan’s Interior Ministry. The operation, conducted jointly by Azerbaijan’s Interior Ministry and Ukrainian police in Kyiv, uncovered a network that allegedly used fake calls from supposed bank officials, police officers, and investment companies to trick victims into transferring money and disclosing confidential banking information. The investigation found that the network operated through illegal call centres established in several Ukrainian cities under the guise of various service companies. The organisers allegedly recruited new members through job advertisements posted on Telegram, offering high salaries for positions in information technology and customer service. Some people were subsequently recruited to work at the illegal call centres in Ukraine. Similar scams have been purported to operate in Ukraine previously. In June 2024, Azerbaijan's State Security Service said Ukrainian law-enforcement agencies had prosecuted members of an international network that used fake investment advertisements and deepfake videos impersonating Azerbaijani state officials and companies to defraud citizens. Two Azerbaijani nationals involved in the scheme were later prosecuted in Azerbaijan. According to the ministry, call centre employees used prepared scripts and psychological manipulation to deceive Azerbaijani citizens. They allegedly posed as representatives of law enforcement agencies, mobile operators, banks, and investment companies, telling victims that suspicious transactions had been detected on their accounts, their money was at risk, or their bank cards would be blocked. The suspects would then allegedly persuade them to transfer money to supposedly secure accounts or disclose their bank card details, SMS verification codes, and other confidential information. In other cases, the network used fraudulent investment offers promising high returns to lure victims. The four individuals — Nariman Iskenderov, Elsun Aliyev, Elshad Musayev, and Elshan Shukurov — were identified by the ministry as the network’s main organisers and had been placed on an international wanted list. The ministry also said five more of the individuals detained — Ruslan Zakirov, Yasaf Bayramov, Elsevar Mammadov, Dmitry Dushin, and Ruslan Matveyev — had allegedly helped launder money obtained through the cyberfraud. According to the investigation, they communicated with members of the network abroad via Telegram, collected stolen funds in bank accounts linked to cards under their control, retained an agreed percentage, and converted the remaining money into cryptocurrency before transferring it abroad. A criminal case has been opened under relevant articles of Azerbaijan’s criminal code. A court has ordered the pre-trial detention of the alleged network organisers, while investigations involving the other detained individuals are ongoing. The Interior Ministry also warned citizens to be cautious of suspicious job offers promising high salaries or easy money on social media and urged them not to share bank card details, SMS verification codes, or other confidential information with unknown individuals. The ministry did not disclose the number of victims or the total amount of money allegedly stolen by the network.