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.
The Georgian Prosecutor’s Office announced Friday that it is investigating the firm running the operation, A.K. Group, for alleged fraud and money laundering.
The Tbilisi-based call center employed approximately 85 people and generated $35.3 million from more than 6,100 victims worldwide since May 2022, according to the [Scam Empire](https://www.occrp.org/en/project/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.