A man from Rösrath near Cologne is said to have made millions in at least four fake online shops and invested them in cryptocurrencies. The 37-year-old’s home and a hairdresser’s shop in Cologne were searched in the morning, the police said. The public prosecutor’s office is investigating goods fraud, tax evasion and money laundering. There was no arrest.
Between 2021 and 2025, the alleged fraudster is said to have operated at least four so-called fake shops on the Internet and sold goods there that he never sent. He is also said to have placed job advertisements online for part-time jobs as an app tester. 380 people from all over Germany responded to these advertisements and opened bank accounts for a supposed software test, over which the 37-year-old then took control. He is said to have transferred the millions in profits from his fake shops to these accounts and from there transferred them into cryptocurrencies.
Crypto and financial investigators as well as tax investigators seized evidence, money and valuables during the searches, it said. The investigation is ongoing.
