A group of fake fortune-tellers who swindled money from people are to stand trial in Kyiv
In Kyiv, members of a criminal gang are to stand trial; according to the investigation, they posed as magicians and psychics and swindled money from members of the public. To pay for the services they were forced to accept, the victims handed over their life savings and took out loans.
In March 2026, Kyiv’s cyber police, in collaboration with investigators from the Darnytskyi Police Department and under the procedural supervision of the Darnytskyi District Prosecutor’s Office, shut down the gang’s operations. According to law enforcement officials, the suspects disguised their activities as esoteric practices and fortune-telling and swindled money from clients.
The investigation established that members of the organiser’s family, a 50-year-old resident of the Cherkasy region, were involved in the scheme. Law enforcement officers paid particular attention to the fact that psychological pressure was also exerted on the relatives of fallen Ukrainian defenders.
Communication with the victims took place via specially created themed websites, telephone calls and messaging apps. According to the investigation, the group’s members, posing as psychics and magicians, used manipulation and intimidated clients with alleged curses. In this way, they persuaded people to order additional services and pay increasingly large sums.
The pre-trial investigation into the four suspects has been completed. They are charged with fraud committed on a particularly large scale or by an organised group under Part 5 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The indictment, together with the case materials, has already been sent to court. The penalty under this article provides for up to 12 years’ imprisonment with confiscation of property.
