Recommended Free Tools
Spain’s Guardia Civil arrested five alleged members of an international cryptocurrency-investment fraud network on June 25, 2025, in an operation supported by Europol and authorities from multiple countries. Investigators estimate the network generated about €460 million in illicit proceeds and affected more than 5,000 victims worldwide. The arrests are not convictions, the investigation was still open when authorities announced the operation on June 30, and no official release says that the full amount was recovered.
What happened in Operation Borrelli?
The case, named Operation Borrelli, was led by Spain’s Guardia Civil. Officers arrested five alleged network members—three in the Canary Islands and two in Madrid—and carried out five searches. The locations included Getafe, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Lucía de Tirajana.
Europol said its support began in 2023 and included coordination, operational and analytical assistance, and the deployment of a cryptocurrency specialist to Spain on the enforcement day. The Guardia Civil worked with Europol, the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, Estonia’s Police and Border Guard Board, France’s Gendarmerie Nationale in New Caledonia and authorities in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Peru, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Sweden.
Europol supported the investigation; Spain’s Guardia Civil made the arrests and conducted the searches. The Guardia Civil said the investigation remained open and that further action had not been ruled out.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
- Effortlessly build your crypto portfolio via the all in one Ledger Wallet app: buy, sell, send, receive, swap, stake and more across popular blockchains. 15,000+ coins & tokens in a single dashboard. Keep a close eye on the market. Compare service providers. Track performance. Get timely alerts. Build your portfolio with confidence.
- Effortlessly build your crypto portfolio via the all in one Ledger Wallet app: buy, sell, send, receive, swap, stake and more across popular blockchains. 15,000+ coins & tokens in a single dashboard. Keep a close eye on the market. Compare service providers. Track performance. Get timely alerts. Build your portfolio with confidence.
- Enjoy Bluetooth connectivity, iOS access, and hours of battery use with this mobile-first, secure backup signer. Freedom you can depend on.
- Genuine Check: confirm your signer is authentic during setup with the Ledger Wallet app.
- Protect your signer: keep it in mint condition at all times with a bespoke Pod or Case to avoid scratches and everyday wear and tear.
Europol’s account of the operation and the Guardia Civil announcement do not name the suspects or identify a particular exchange, token, blockchain, website or wallet.
How much money and how many victims were involved?
| Measure | Official figure | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Worldwide proceeds | About €460 million | Europol’s estimate of illicit proceeds from the alleged crypto-investment fraud |
| Worldwide victims | More than 5,000 | Europol’s reported total; the final court-determined number could differ |
| Countries affected | 30 | Figure reported by Spain’s Guardia Civil |
| Spain-specific losses | About €39 million | Guardia Civil estimate |
| Spain-specific victims | About 500 | Guardia Civil estimate |
| Cryptocurrency seized | Amount not stated | The Guardia Civil reported a substantial seizure but gave no total valuation |
Some coverage calls the case a “$540 million” fraud. That is a rounded, exchange-rate-dependent conversion of the official €460 million figure, not a separate dollar-denominated estimate. The releases describe alleged illicit proceeds and, in Spain’s account, money allegedly defrauded; those accounting categories should not automatically be treated as identical to money ultimately lost by every victim.
Rank #2
- Proven security at scale: Over 9 years and millions of cards issued with no known remote hacks, while military‑grade EAL6+ security keeps your private keys locked inside the chip. Your cryptocurrencies stay strongly protected from online attackers.
- Tap once to manage your entire crypto wallet across 90 blockchains - no USB cables or Bluetooth, no batteries, no setup. Access 14,100+ coins & tokens, DeFi, NFTs, and staking instantly from your phone
- Smart backup: Use your second Tangem Wallet as your Backup keys with end‑to‑end encryption; no more papers, pictures. If one card is lost, the remaining can still restore full access, with an optional seed phrase available for advanced users.
- Engineered to last up to 25 years: Waterproof (IP69K), shockproof and tested for extreme temperatures from −25°C to 50°C. A durable cold wallet with long‑term protection and independently audited security.
- Trusted by 6 million users worldwide - buy, sell, swap, stake, and spend cryptocurrency directly. The secure offline storage wallet designed for how people actually use crypto wallets
How did the alleged network operate?
Authorities describe a hybrid investment-fraud and laundering structure rather than a cryptocurrency exchange hack. The alleged network used an international group of sales representatives or associates to solicit funds. The Guardia Civil also referred to a Hong Kong-linked company involved in FOREX investment.
Collection and movement of funds
- Victims’ money was allegedly raised through cash withdrawals, bank transfers and cryptocurrency transfers.
- The network reportedly created corporate and banking arrangements connected to the Hong Kong-linked business.
- Payment gateways and user accounts held in different people’s names were used to receive or route money.
- Multiple cryptocurrency exchanges allegedly stored, received and transferred criminal proceeds.
The public releases do not identify the company, payment gateways or exchanges. A Hong Kong connection does not by itself establish wrongdoing by Hong Kong institutions or authorities.
Rank #3
- All your digital assets in one place. You can manage thousands of crypto including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Tether and more.
- Defend your identity against hackers: secure your online accounts with passwordless, hardware backed, 2FA logins for all your favorite apps and websites.
- Connectivity: USB-C cable connection only. No Bluetooth.Compatible with the Ledger Wallet crypto app, both desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux) and mobile (Android only). Not compatible with iOS.
- Protect your digital assets with the industry's best security: keep your private keys offline in your private signer, battle-tested by the Donjon's white hat hackers, CC EAL 6+ certified Secure Element, constantly updated Ledger OS.
- Effortlessly build your crypto portfolio via the all in one Ledger Wallet app: buy, sell, send, receive, swap, stake and more across popular blockchains. 15,000+ coins & tokens in a single dashboard. Keep a close eye on the market. Compare service providers. Track performance. Get timely alerts. Build your portfolio with confidence.
Does this match a “pig-butchering” scam?
Secondary reporting has characterized the activity as consistent with cryptocurrency confidence fraud, sometimes called romance baiting or “pig butchering.” In that model, a fraudster builds trust over time and then directs a target to a fraudulent investment platform that displays invented profits.
That label is context, not a confirmed description of every Borrelli victim. The Europol and Guardia Civil releases do not say that all victims were contacted through dating apps, describe a single script, or use the term “pig butchering.” A general explanation of the terminology appears in The Hacker News’ coverage.
Rank #4
- UNPARALLELED SECURITY: Protect your assets with Trezor Safe 5's NDA-free EAL 6+ Secure Element, offering robust defense and complete transparency.
- EFFORTLESS NAVIGATION: Experience seamless crypto management with the vibrant color touchscreen, designed for intuitive and user-friendly interactions.
- ENHANCED USER EXPERIENCE: Enjoy tactile confirmation with Trezor Touch Haptic Engine, making each interaction precise and engaging.
- SUPPORTS 1000s OF COINS & TOKENS: Securely handle thousands of assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more, all in one wallet.
- EASY ASSET MANAGEMENT: Monitor and transact seamlessly with Trezor Suite, our user-friendly desktop and mobile app
What “dismantled” means—and what it does not
“Dismantled” is headline shorthand for a major enforcement action: five arrests, five searches and a large cryptocurrency seizure. It does not establish that every part of a worldwide network was eliminated. The investigation was ongoing in the June 30 announcement, and the official material reviewed reports no convictions, final judgments or restitution total.
Arrested people remain alleged participants unless and until a court finds them guilty. Likewise, a seizure is not the same as recovery for victims. The authorities did not say that €460 million—or its approximate dollar equivalent—was seized or returned.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Best Value
- Dual-chip architecture for maximum protection: The next-gen, fully auditable TROPIC01 chip works alongside a certified EAL6+ Secure Element—completely NDA-free—to deliver radically transparent, industry-leading defense against physical attacks.
- Quantum-ready security: Get protection against future threats with the first-ever hardware wallet designed with quantum-ready architecture.
- See every detail with confidence: Our largest high-resolution color touchscreen makes it easy to navigate your assets, review transactions and manage your coins with clarity.
- Wireless freedom with encrypted Bluetooth control: Manage, buy, swap and stake securely using Trezor Suite on desktop or mobile. Qi2-compatible wireless charging keeps your Trezor powered up. No cables required—security meets convenience.
- Works seamlessly with Android, iOS and desktop: Connect wirelessly or via USB-C to your phone or computer. Manage your crypto anywhere with our companion Trezor Suite app.
Why the case matters beyond cryptocurrency
Operation Borrelli illustrates how modern online investment fraud can combine social engineering with conventional banking and digital assets. A scheme may begin with persuasion, move through ordinary bank accounts and payment processors, and then use cryptocurrency exchanges to layer or transfer proceeds across jurisdictions.
Europol has separately warned that online fraud is growing in scale, variety, sophistication and reach, and that artificial intelligence could make social engineering and data access easier. That is a general threat assessment; the Borrelli releases do not allege that these five suspects used generative AI.
Warning signs of a similar investment scam
The following indicators are general fraud warnings, not individually confirmed facts about every Borrelli victim:
- An unsolicited investment approach through social media or a messaging app.
- Pressure to move the conversation away from a mainstream platform.
- Promises of unusually high or guaranteed returns.
- A trading dashboard showing profits that cannot be verified independently.
- Requests to send money to a personal account, unfamiliar payment gateway or wallet controlled by another person.
- Demands for extra “tax,” “withdrawal” or “verification” payments before funds can be released.
- Several supposed account managers or intermediaries handling one investment.
- Claims that a celebrity, bank, regulator or famous exchange endorses the opportunity.
- Requests to install remote-access software or disclose a wallet seed phrase, password or one-time code.
If you have already sent money
- Stop sending additional funds, including payments promised to “unlock” a withdrawal.
- Contact your bank, card provider or cryptocurrency exchange immediately and ask what transaction-reversal or account-protection steps are available.
- Preserve messages, websites, invoices, wallet addresses, transaction hashes and payment records.
- Report the matter promptly to local law enforcement and the relevant financial or consumer-protection authority.
- Be cautious of recovery services that demand an upfront fee or claim guaranteed restitution; victims are frequently targeted by follow-on scams.
Current legal status
As of the Guardia Civil’s June 30, 2025 announcement, Operation Borrelli was an active investigation. The confirmed facts are the five arrests, five searches, international cooperation and the authorities’ attributed estimates of victims and proceeds. The public releases do not establish convictions, complete network removal, full recovery of funds or compensation for victims.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
