Operation Herakles Disrupts Crypto Scam Calls with Mass Phone Number Disconnect

A joint operation between six authorities in Germany and Austria has disconnected over 13,888 phone numbers used by investment fraudsters to scam people into investing in crypto-assets. Since September 2026, Operation Herakles has taken down 9,304 German phone numbers and 491 Austrian ones, with a cumulative total of 13,397 German and 491 Austrian numbers.

The operation targets cyber trading fraud, where fake platforms simulate trading in crypto-assets, foreign exchange, or shares on unlicensed platforms. The authorities have been taking measures to disconnect the tools used by these scammers, including domains and phone numbers.

When receiving a call about a crypto investment, it's essential to verify the platform's license status before making any money transfers. The authorities recommend checking the company database of the financial supervisory authority and looking up the public list of authorized service providers.