Fraudsters posing as SBU officers defrauded elderly women in Kyiv of 9 million

A fraud group operating under the guise of employees of the Security Service of Ukraine, deceiving older women, was discovered in Kyiv. The criminals convinced the victims that their funds had to be checked, after which they took away significant amounts. In total, the fraudsters stole approximately 9 million hryvnias.

Four members of this criminal group, who organized a large-scale scheme to defraud older women, were detained by the law enforcement agencies of the capital. Investigators and operatives of the Podilskyi Police Department, together with criminal investigation officers, were involved in the operation to expose the fraudsters.

According to the testimony, the criminals called elderly citizens, introducing themselves as employees of the Security Service of Ukraine. During the conversation, they used psychological pressure, scaring the victims that their funds could be associated with threats from aggressors. The fraudsters insisted on the urgent transfer of money for their “check”.

The organizer of the criminal scheme was a 27-year-old Kyiv resident, who was joined by three of his acquaintances aged 21 to 22. Each participant played a role in this criminal activity. One of them worked as a courier, another oversaw the transfer of funds and their subsequent movement through illegal currency exchange points and cryptocurrency wallets, and another was responsible for coordinating individual stages.

Law enforcement officers identified at least four victims, older women aged 68 to 88. The total amount of damage caused by the fraudsters is approximately 9 million hryvnias.

The suspects were detained in accordance with Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code. They were charged under Part 5 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which provides for fraud on an especially large scale.

Investigators continue their work, identifying other possible victims and persons involved in this criminal scheme. The suspects are currently in custody. Under current legislation, this offense is punishable by up to 12 years’ imprisonment and the confiscation of property.