Ukraine’s police uncovers scammers who duped soldiers of 46 million hryvnas

Source: National Police of Ukraine

Ukrainian law enforcement said on Wednesday they got a helping hand from  Moldovan counterparts to uncover a criminal ring that scammed Ukrainian soldiers out of over ₴46 million selling nonexistent drones and vehicles.

Unraveled by cyber police operatives in Kyiv, the fraudulent sell scheme saw a group of eight Odesa residents trying to cash in on hing demand for drones in the Ukrainian army.

Arrested in Moldova on Kyiv’s request this week, the suspects, aged 17 to 46, were led by a 34-year-old Russian native, who ran fake ads on popular marketplaces to lure customers.

The scammers posted ads offering vehicles for the Ukrainian Armed Forces at bargain prices. Posing as sellers on a messaging app, they would ask for prepayments on nonexistent drones and vehicles.

The scam was elaborate as “the criminals demanded that their victims provide documents proving their military or volunteer status,” police noted.  After they got the payment they would mock the people they had duped and delete the online conversations and blocking the duped clients.

The scammers would withdraw the money from ATMs in Moldova and spend them on luxury cars and jewelry.

The international operation of conducted 23 raids in Moldova and 13 more in Ukraine (in Odesa and Dnipro regions) at the suspects’ residences and vehicles.

The haul from these raids included around ₴250,000, $61,000, 20 luxury cars, about 5 kg of gold jewelry, mobile phones, over 80 bank cards from Moldova, Ukraine, and Russia, weapons, notebooks, and computer equipment.

The operation was supported by security representatives from commercial banks in Ukraine. A court has ordered the scammers into custody as they face fraud and money laundering charges under Art.190, 209 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code. If convicted, the defendants could face up to 12 years behind bars.