German and Austrian authorities successfully deactivated 13,397 German and 491 Austrian telephone numbers during Operation Herakles. The joint effort targeted systematic investment fraud conducted via fake trading platforms, disabling 9,304 lines in three months.
The General Public Prosecutor's Office in Karlsruhe and the Austrian Federal Criminal Police Office identified numbers used by fraudsters. BaFin and the Federal Network Agency mandated that telecommunications companies tighten registration and compliance controls.
Investigations continue against unknown perpetrators for conspiracy to commit commercial gang fraud. In 2025, officials also deactivated over 2,200 fraudulent domains. While no arrests were reported, the operation significantly disrupted illicit financial networks.