It goes on and on and on. Broker scams powered by Israeli perpetrators. A few days ago, FinTelegram reported about the whistleblower who leaked information to the media about the cybercrime organization Milton Group in Kiev, Ukraine. Since then, the Organized Crime and Corruption Project (OCCRP) has also been reporting on the leaked information, bringing astonishing details to light through its global network. The Milton Group in Ukraine and affiliated partners in Georgia and Albania are said to have operated broker scams and boiler rooms and defrauded thousands of small investors. At the heart of this cybercrime organization are the Georgian-born Israeli David Todva (aka David Todua or Davit Todva) and his fellow countryman Jacob Keselman. Also part of the scheme are influential individuals in Eastern Europe such as the Albanian Amant Josifi, a guy closely connected to Albanian politicians.
The fake Kiev company
The domain www.milton.com.ua is officially linked to a furniture store in Kiev. However, the email addresses @milton.com.ua are used by the Cybercrime Organisation to communicate via boiler rooms and broker brands. According to OCCRP, the boiler rooms in Kiev, Tirana, and Tbilisi are strictly guarded by private security forces.
Jacob Keselman and David Todua
While alleged Milton Group CEO Jacob Keselman labeled himself Wolf of Kiev in an Instagram posting he refers to David Todva as the “father” of the company.
The Georgian-born Israeli David Todva is apparently also one of the beneficial owners and director of the unregulated Cypriot payment processor N.A. Naspay Ltd. This payment processor is allegedly deeply involved in the Milton Group and broker scams. According to the findings of the FinTelegram Research Team, Crypto Bull, CryptoMB or Finaxis, for example, could be directly linked to Naspay. These named crypto scams are allegedly operated by the Milton Group.
Amant Josifi
According to OCCRP, the Tirana-based boiler rooms are operated by companies controlled and beneficially owned by the Albanian Amant Josifi, 31, via his APA Liason Shpk. Josifi allegedly is very close to David Todua and Jacob Keselman. Josifi is a former business partner of the Albanian prime minister’s brother, Ols (Olsi) Rama. His mother, Pranvera Strakosha, is a former judge who is now the Commissioner for the Oversight of the Civil Service, an ombudsman charged with protecting the rights of government employees.
According to OCCRP, the Tirana-based boiler rooms are operated by companies controlled and beneficially owned by the Albanian Amant Josifi, 31, via his APA Liason Shpk. Josifi allegedly is very close to David Todua and Jacob Keselman. Josifi is a former business partner of the Albanian prime minister’s brother, Ols “Olsi” Rama. His mother, Pranvera Strakosha, is a former judge who is now the Commissioner for the Oversight of the Civil Service, an ombudsman charged with protecting the rights of government employees.
Andrii Romanko
Although Amant Josifi confirmed that Andrii Romanko had been employed as an “operator” at his Albanian boiler room since 2018 he insisted that Romanko did not work for Milton Group in Kiev. However, OCCRP has documented that this Romanko was frequently encountered at the premises of the Milton Group in Kiev. In fact, we know this pattern of “traveling” executives from the other scams of Israeli boiler room operators.
The good news with the discovery of this new investment scam is that it creates awareness of the huge scale and threat of such scams. And once again, the tracks lead directly to Israeli attackers.
