Criminal networks use digital technologies to reach large numbers of victims across borders and to move illicit proceeds quickly from one jurisdiction to another. This makes online investment fraud complex to investigate. JITs can play a crucial role in addressing these challenges by enabling authorities from different countries to coordinate their investigations and work closely together.

Eurojust President Michael Schmid in his opening remarks, “Between 2020 and 2025, both the number of online investment fraud cases registered at Eurojust and the number of JITs dealing with this type of crime increased by more than 330%. Our casework shows that efforts by individual authorities to prosecute such crimes on their own are often futile. These cases specifically require cooperation and usually, the successful ones are based on Joint investigation Teams.”

Discussions covered how online investment fraud-schemes operate, the judicial challenges posed by their cross-border nature, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in detecting and combating this type of fraud. In practical workshops, participants looked at how to manage digital evidence within a JIT, how to approach financial investigations and asset recovery, and how to deal with victims in large-scale investment fraud cases.

The agenda also included short sessions on violence-as-a-service, an emerging phenomenon that shows why judicial authorities must keep pace with evolving forms of crime. Participants were also updated on ongoing projects and activities of the JITs Network, as well as JIT funding and the JITs Collaboration Platform.

More than 80 participants joined the event, including 32 JIT National Experts and representatives from the European Commission, Interpol, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Anti-Money Laundering Authority and eu-LISA. The meeting was organised by the JITs Network Secretariat, in collaboration with Eurojust and Europol.

Joint Investigation Teams are an international cooperation tool based on an agreement between the competent authorities of two or more States, established for a limited period to carry out criminal investigations. The JITs Network, supported by its Secretariat, has been vital to promoting the use of JITs, sharing expertise and developing practical guidance since its establishment in 2005.