Law enforcement agencies in Ukraine, Lithuania, and Latvia have dismantled an international criminal group that defrauded European Union citizens of at least $1.2 million (over UAH 51 million) over the course of a year. The leader of the organization and ten accomplices were detained in the city of Dnipro .
This was reported in the press center of the Security Service of Ukraine . According to the investigation, the attackers created four contact centers in Dnipro, through which they made mass calls to foreigners with offers to invest money in supposedly profitable cryptocurrency projects.
To build trust, the scammers used a specially designed online platform that mimicked the operation of a crypto exchange. The site displayed falsified asset growth charts and false profitability data. Potential investors were offered to make a small initial deposit, after which they were shown “profits” and encouraged to invest larger amounts.
When the investment amount reached significant amounts, the attackers stopped contact, blocked access to the accounts, and transferred the funds to their own crypto wallets. Thus, a large-scale money-laundering scheme was implemented over the course of a year.
During more than 40 searches in the premises of call centers and at the suspects' places of residence, mobile phones, computers with evidence of activity, as well as about UAH 21 million in cash, likely obtained through criminal means, were seized.
The detainees were informed of suspicion under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, in particular regarding the creation and participation in a criminal organization, fraud on an especially large scale using electronic systems, and legalization of proceeds from crime. The suspects are in custody.
The investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement officers are identifying other possible participants in the scheme and the channels of funds movement, as well as checking for involvement in international cybercrime networks.
