Georgian prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into a massive scam call center operation based in the capital, Tbilisi, after it was exposed by journalists earlier this week.
“I can only confirm that the investigation has indeed begun, all investigative and procedural actions are underway, and we will make a statement when it becomes possible,” spokesperson Baia Tsanava told OCCRP partner Studio Monitori.
The Tbilisi-based call center is run by a firm called A.K. Group and employs approximately 85 people. It generated $35.3 million from more than 6,100 victims worldwide since May 2022, according to the Scam Empire investigation published Wednesday by OCCRP, SVT, and 30 other media partners.
The investigation, based on 1.9 terabytes of leaked data obtained by SVT, identified two networks of scam call centers operating from Israel, Eastern Europe, and Georgia. Their employees allegedly convinced 32,000 people globally to make fraudulent “investments” totaling at least $275 million.
A.K. Group is registered as a telemarketing firm and is owned by 36-year-old Georgian national Meri Shotadze. Leaked internal chats suggest Shotadze helped manage a team of young, multilingual agents.
Call center employees allegedly used false identities, forged documents, and deceptive advertising to defraud victims, often referring to themselves as skameri—Georgian slang for scammers. Top performers were reportedly rewarded with lavish bonuses, which they used to purchase luxury goods and expensive vacations.
Investigators also linked Akaki Kevkhishvili, 33, to the operation, although his name does not appear on A.K. Group’s official records. It remains unclear whether Kevkhishvili was the primary orchestrator or working under another figure.
Neither Shotadze nor Kevkhishvili responded to requests for comment.
