A group of fake fortune tellers who defrauded citizens was exposed in Kyiv
Kyiv cyber police, together with investigators from the Darnytskyi Police Department, exposed the activities of three families who, since at least 2024, had been stealing citizens' money under the guise of fortune-telling and esoteric services.
According to the investigation, the organiser of the scheme was a 50-year-old resident of the Cherkasy region. She involved relatives and acquaintances aged 18 to 60 in the scheme. Through websites, messengers and targeted advertising, the suspects convinced people of alleged imminent misfortune and demanded money for performing rituals, using ordinary items as magical attributes.
The victims were encouraged to send gold items, take out loans and pawn their valuables. Among those deceived were servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and families of fallen defenders. In particular, the wife of a fallen soldier was psychologically pressured into transferring funds from her state benefits. The total amount of damage is almost 1.4 million hryvnias.
Law enforcement officers conducted 10 searches in the Cherkasy and Vinnytsia regions. During the investigation, they seized a vehicle, more than 400,000 hryvnias in cash, mobile phones, computer equipment, bank cards, rough notes and other material evidence.
Three individuals were notified of suspicion under parts four and five of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The organiser and her accomplice were detained. The court imposed a preventive measure in the form of house arrest. The investigation is ongoing.
