Fraudulent call centers in Kyiv and Chernihiv scam Ukrainians out of ₴100 million
Source: National Police of Ukraine
Law enforcement said on Thursday they have uncovered a network of fraudulent call centers operating in Kyiv and Chernihiv, responsible for scamming over 100 million hryvnias from unsuspecting victims.
The scam involved over 15 individuals, who targeted victims by calling them with fake announcements of lottery winnings or loyalty program rewards. To claim their “prize,” victims were asked to pay for delivery, which typically included low-value items like shampoo, soap, bracelets, or trinkets. The delivery cost effectively matched the value of the items.
Victims were then lured into advancing to next “stages” of the lottery, where they were promised grand prizes worth up to ₴750,000. However, to qualify for these rewards, people were required to make additional payments. The scammers would ask extra fees times, with people ending up empty-handed at the end.
During raids on the call centers, authorities seized over 500 computers, ₴1 million in cash, and other evidence linking the suspects to the scam.
At this point, more than 500 individuals have been identified as victims of these call centers. Twelve suspects have been charged, with four currently in custody and five under house arrest.
The pre-trial investigation is ongoing, with total damages exceeding ₴100 million.
In my previous column, I wrote about social innovations in Ukraine. Those innovations are part of civic resilience and the democratization of security, which Europe is paying close attention to right now. The EU is trying to work out how to spread responsibility for its own security across society as a whole, rather than leaving it to institutions alone. It is looking for concrete ways to bring ordinary people into the work of defense and resistance.
Petro Poroshenko’s lawyers have appealed to the High Anti-Corruption Court demanding that NABU be obligated to register proceedings regarding the fact of exerting influence on the court and to recognize Petro Poroshenko as a victim in the case of the Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Iryna Mudra, due to her pressure on Supreme Court judges who were considering a lawsuit to overturn sanctions.
Internationally recognized brands and financial institutions should direct capital to Ukraine now, not waiting for the hostilities to end. This was emphasized by Rinat Akhmetov, president of FC Shakhtar, during a working visit to UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, where he met with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.
In recent days, Moscow’s official rhetoric has been dominated by hysteria over the decision of…
In 2025, the deadliest year yet for civilians, Ukraine’s three largest charitable foundations raised a record 105.9 billion hryvnias. It is more than the years 2022–2024 combined. According to the UN, humanitarian aid in Ukraine was delivered by more than 450 organisations, reaching five million people over the course of the year. Civic foundations hold licences to purchase lethal weapons, which is a function states have monopolised for centuries. These record sums were underwritten by international government grants, which means foreign states now channel billions directly through Ukrainian civic funds, bypassing inter-state channels. It is hard to imagine a stronger institutional trust in civil society.