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Fiks Fare denounced on Thursday evening the scheme of introducing counterfeit money in Albania, where criminal groups use social networks for advertising.
But if until yesterday these groups used transfers at foreign exchange points, today they use payments in virtual currencies, which are very difficult to be traced by law enforcement agencies. The journalists of the investigative show found out with voice and image some groups and individuals, who “sold” counterfeit money. But, these groups already cooperate with some foreign exchange points, where payment to traffickers and counterfeiters is made in cryptocurrencies.
Social networks, “advertising” for fake money; Make the payment, bring the motorcyclist!
In Albania there is a market of counterfeit money, where they are advertised on social networks to be sold. Fiks Fare got in touch with people who advertised counterfeit money on social networks. If you do a search on the social network ‘Tik Tok’ you will find dozens of sites that offer the sale of counterfeit euros.
Behind these pages are unidentified persons. There is even an exchange rate at these addresses that trade fake euros. For the purchase of counterfeit euros, you have to pay 15% -20% of the value. On these sites for the purchase of 1 thousand fake euros to ask to pay 150-200 euros.
There are two payment schemes: via bank cards or through cryptocurrency. Sellers of counterfeit euros promise fast delivery of goods through their couriers. After contacting these sellers on social networks, they are directed to communicate privately on the telegram platform, where they think they are safer to be eavesdropped on or identified.
“No one can find the person who committed the fraud, as payments are made in cryptocurrency. They are about to lose track. In this case, the fraudster deceives the fraudster and they do not denounce them “says the expert Tomi Kallanxhi.
Fiks Fare initially contacted ÇËIP, a site that advertises the sale of counterfeit euros on Tik Tok. The administrators of this site asked us to communicate on whatsapp with them and give us a phone number that has the UK prefix.
Show that they have a regulation of their own, which does not allow them to meet buyers. Meanwhile, as proof of their credibility to give pictures of their satisfied customers after buying fake euros to them. The first seller tells us that after making the payment at one of the points to show them on Rruga e Durrësit or Rruga e Kavajës in Tirana, their motorcyclist brings the order, ie false euros. “When you go to the web at dinner you just go to a web that you have no chance to talk to the person who has the merchandise. In this case you have the chance to speak, you have the evidence at Tik Toku to find this number. This type of delivery you are receiving is proof. You bring the money within the day and take it. “You bring the motorcyclist,” the person wrote to Fiks Fare reporters, while he knew that if he was spotted by the police, he risked 8 years in prison.
Criminal groups demand payments in Cryptocurrency, not detected
On the social network Tik Tok, the show “Fiks Fare” contacted 2 other sites that sold counterfeit euros. Both sites passed the communication with the journalists of Fiks fare on Telegram. There they explained to us how to buy fake euros. “Do you know where they are, exchanges. Just google ‘Crypto Exchanges Tirana’ ”suggests the person who has information on who can convert euros into cryptocurrencies. He even tells him that two exchange points are near “Skëndërbej” square.
In order to make the payments, the sites on Tik Tok addressed the journalists of “Fiks Fare” at some foreign exchange points that made transfers with cryptocurrencies. “Everything is done in order for groups and individuals not to be identified. It is very difficult to identify, as individuals have not submitted personal data “says expert Tomi Kallanxhi.
To make these payments, they also provide a bar code, which teaches us how to present it to the employees of the foreign exchange points. According to them, it was quite simple to find such exchanges.
Following this information, Fiks Fare reporters went to 2 of these points. At the foreign exchange point, journalists demanded to transfer 50 euros to the USDT. There they refused to make this transfer, as according to them it was too small. They told us that they make such transfers in cryptocurrencies, but for amounts over $ 300.
Journalists were introduced to another exchange to make transfers to bar codes given to counterfeit euro sellers. The exchange point clerk, to make these transfers, gives a phone number of a person doing the process. After the telephone communication of the journalist of Fiks Fare with this person, he confirms the transfer of money in 2 bar codes given to us by the sellers of fake euros.
So, for every transfer this person requires a commission. While the payment for the 2 transfers in cryptocurrency and for the commissions, the journalist made at the counter of Excganget and the employee does not give her any invoice or tax coupon, despite the insistence of the journalist.
AMF: Currency exchange points in crypto are illegal
In 2020, the Parliament of Albania approved the law no. 66 on virtual currency. The object of the law is to regulate the issuance of digital tokens and / or virtual currencies, the licensing, monitoring and supervision of entities that exercise the activity of distribution, trading and storage. A technical law, which obliges anyone dealing with virtual currencies to register and license.
Moreover, the topic of this law was part of a debate in the Committee on Economy between the socialist MP Erion Brace and the leaders of the AFSA. According to Brace, the non-licensing of any entity has led to money laundering by criminal groups. Fiks Fare contacted the Financial Supervision Authority, requesting official information on licensed entities and individuals. AFSA replied that “so far, no individual or firm has been licensed to exchange cryptocurrencies.” Consequently, all actions performed by foreign exchange points denounced by Fiks Fare, are illegal!
“As far as I know, no individual or entity is licensed. If they were to be licensed, they would show that they had virtual currencies, they had to present their identities, which makes them subjects of profit declarations “, says Tomi Kallanxhi.
This illegality has led to the flourishing of the cryptocurrency trade in Albania, which has led to money laundering and the circulation of counterfeit money. The State Police has carried out several operations to crack down on this phenomenon, seizing several laboratories, while arresting several people for counterfeiting money. On the other hand, the phenomenon of counterfeit money has worried the Bank of Albania, which advises citizens to be careful.
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