Russian Authorities Bust Phone Scam Tied to Davit Kezerashvili
On Monday, Russian authorities dismantled a branch of an international phone scam operation linked to former Georgian Defense Minister Davit Kezerashvili. The Federal Security Service (FSB) reported that the criminal ring, allegedly part of the notorious Milton Group network, had defrauded thousands of victims across more than 50 countries.
The scam operation, which involved multiple call centers across Russia, defrauded about 100,000 individuals in the EU, UK, Brazil, India, Japan, and other nations. The FSB stated that the phone operators not only swindled victims but also sent false bomb threat reports to disrupt Russian infrastructure. These reports targeted areas in Moscow and other regions bordering Ukraine, such as Kursk, Bryansk, and Belgorod.
The Milton Group, initially based in Kiev, has been a recognized international scam operation for years. The FSB alleges that the ultimate beneficiary of the scam is Kezerashvili, who served as Georgia’s defense minister and chief of financial police under former President Mikhail Saakashvili. Despite residing in London, Kezerashvili has previously denied any involvement in criminal activities.
This investigation mirrors a similar probe by Georgian authorities in September, which identified another phone fraud operation linked to Kezerashvili’s family. Known as Morgan Limited, the operation reportedly generated over €3 million from victims in Germany, Slovenia, and Slovakia over a span of three years.
In a related development, Georgia’s Interior Ministry raided Kezerashvili’s former residence, where they found a concealed arsenal of firearms. His brother-in-law, Dimitry Chikovani, who is a prominent opposition figure, currently resides at the property. The raid is part of a larger crackdown on groups involved in organizing violence in Georgia. Chikovani is also linked to the United National Movement, which is leading anti-government protests over the recent parliamentary elections.
Both the FSB and Georgian authorities continue their investigations into Kezerashvili’s alleged criminal activities, signaling an ongoing effort to combat international fraud and corruption.
