Norwegian prosecutors have charged four individuals for their role in a massive fraud and money laundering operation that deceived thousands of victims worldwide. Authorities say the scheme collected over 900 million kroner ($86-87 million), with more than 700 million kroner laundered through a Norwegian law firm before being transferred to accounts in Asia.

The scam operated as a multi-level marketing structure, with victims recruited to buy "product packages" containing cryptocurrency and company shares. Investors were promised profits from gas fields, mining, and real estate, but investigators say no real investments were made. Instead, new deposits funded payouts to earlier investors, fitting the classic Ponzi scheme model.

Officials revealed that financial professionals, including lawyers and accountants, helped to conceal the money flow, making the fraud harder to detect. Europol has warned that financial crimes like these are a growing global threat, with fraud and money laundering acting as the driving force behind organised crime.

Despite the cross-border nature of the operation, Norwegian authorities stress that those responsible will be prosecuted, no matter where their victims are located. The case highlights the increasing use of professional services to facilitate fraud, a challenge that law enforcement agencies worldwide are struggling to tackle.