The Security Service of Ukraine exposed a fraudulent network that was involved in stealing cryptocurrency from citizens of the EU.
The Security Service of Ukraine, together with the National Agency for Combating Terrorism, Extremism and Cybercrime of the Police of the Czech Republic, exposed and stopped the activity of a fraudulent network that was engaged in stealing funds from the electronic accounts of EU citizens. During a special operation in Transcarpathia, four organizers of this scheme were detained. informs SBU press office,
In the city of Uzhhorod, criminals set up an illegal call center, to which they attracted more than 70 young people aged 19 to 27. Working under the guise of investment consultants, the operators called citizens of the European Union and convinced them to invest in supposedly profitable crypto projects. In the meantime, the group’s IT specialists posted advertisements for fake investment platforms online.
Fraudsters forced victims to register in specially created electronic accounts, which made it possible to install virus software on the victims’ devices. In this way, attackers gained access to crypto wallets and banking applications of users and transferred funds from there to their own accounts.
According to preliminary estimates, the total amount of stolen money is at least 2 million hryvnias. During searches of the call center and the residences of the suspects, law enforcement officers seized mobile phones, computer equipment and other evidence of illegal activity.
The four organizers of the fraudulent scheme have been charged with fraud on a particularly large scale under Part 5 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The perpetrators are in custody. They face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property. Investigative actions are ongoing with the aim of establishing and bringing to justice all those involved in criminal activity.
The investigation is carried out by SBU employees in the Zakarpattia region under the procedural guidance of the regional prosecutor’s office.
