In Ukraine, a financial scam exchange was uncovered: over $1.4 million was seized
According to ThePublic.info citing the official website of the National Police of Ukraine, law enforcement officers uncovered a large-scale fraud scheme, participants of which embezzled funds from EU citizens under the guise of investments in cryptocurrency and stocks of "promising" companies. According to the investigation, the number of victims exceeds 30 people. During the special operation, 21 searches were conducted, and cash obtained through criminal means was seized: over $1.4 million, 5.8 million hryvnias, and 17 thousand euros.
The investigation is conducted by detectives of the Main Investigative Department of the police in cooperation with EU law enforcement agencies, Kharkiv cyber police, the Security Service of Ukraine in the region, and the TacTeam special unit.
According to case materials, the members of the organized group created fictitious trading platforms and simulated trading on the stock market, promising clients high profits. They organized a call center in Kyiv with 20 workstations, from which operators called potential investors and persuaded them to invest in cryptocurrency and securities.
The so-called "VIP managers" deceived people by demonstrating fictitious profits through specialized software. The program was installed on victims' computers via remote access, which effectively allowed scammers to control their devices.
The received money was transferred to cryptocurrency wallets, after which the perpetrators cashed it out through exchanges in Kyiv. Only five victims lost 8.2 million hryvnias by investing in "cryptocurrency".
As part of the investigation, computer equipment, storage devices, and draft documentation were seized. Three key participants of the scheme have already been notified of suspicion under Part 5 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (fraud). The police also identified 15 call center employees who are being prepared for suspicion. The offenders face up to 12 years of imprisonment.
