Ukrainian and Latvian law enforcement agencies have uncovered a fraudulent call centre that was arranging loans for Latvian citizens
Investigators from the Main Investigation Department of the National Police, in collaboration with cyber police officers from the Kharkiv region, operatives from the Security Service of Ukraine and Latvian law enforcement agencies, have uncovered the activities of a fraudulent organisation whose members operated via a call centre in Kharkiv and the Kharkiv region.
According to the investigation, the suspects telephoned Latvian citizens and introduced themselves as employees of a law firm. They offered to help recover funds that people had previously lost through pseudo-investment platforms, fake brokers or cryptocurrency scams.
To find potential victims, the scheme’s participants purchased databases from other fraudulent groups, obtained contacts from associates, or found them on the dark web.
To gain trust, they convinced their targets that the company allegedly only received payment after successfully recovering the funds. In reality, the aim was to gain access to the victims’ bank accounts.
Under the pretext of undergoing verification, people were persuaded to create or activate a Smart ID, an electronic signature, and provide the necessary details to process the compensation. To simplify the procedure, victims were offered to install remote access software, which allowed the fraudsters to gain control over their devices and online banking.
The fraudsters then took out loans in the victims’ names via online contracts using forged electronic signatures. The funds obtained were transferred to accounts and cryptocurrency wallets under their control, and subsequently distributed through various financial instruments.
The investigation also established that some victims were persuaded to open new accounts, change the method of receiving their pensions, transfer funds between banks or involve trusted individuals. Such actions gave the scheme’s participants additional control over citizens’ finances.
According to law enforcement, the total amount of losses amounts to at least 4 million hryvnias.
The police documented the organisation’s internal structure. Its members had clearly defined roles. Some were responsible for initial contact with the victims, while others gained access to online banking, used Smart ID, took out loans and withdrew funds. Certain individuals were involved in managing the call centre, training staff and supervising the operators’ activities.
As part of the special operation, law enforcement officers carried out 14 searches in Kharkiv and the Kharkiv region. During the investigations, mobile phones, computer equipment, data storage devices, vehicles and other material evidence were seized.
Five members of the group were detained. They were informed that they were suspected of establishing and participating in a criminal organisation, unauthorised interference with information systems, and fraud on a particularly large scale committed by an organised group.
The court ordered two key suspects to be remanded in custody and placed three other members under 24-hour house arrest.
The pre-trial investigation is continuing under the procedural supervision of the Office of the Prosecutor General.
