Prisoners defrauded dozens of Ukrainians under the guise of selling car parts. The participants of the fraudulent scheme were served a notice of suspicion.
Cyberpolice of Lviv region together with investigators of the Investigation Department of the regional headquarters under the procedural supervision of the Lviv Regional Prosecutor’s Office with the assistance of employees of penitentiary institutions of the Western Interregional Department for the Execution of Criminal Sentences of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine documented the illegal activities of an organised criminal group consisting of three people.
While serving their sentences for other crimes in prisons in Lviv region, the offenders organised the “sale” of auto parts. To do this, they created fake accounts on Facebook and posted relevant ads.
After receiving prepayments for the goods on controlled bank accounts, the criminals stopped communicating with the public. Accordingly, the customers never received the ordered car parts.
In the course of the pre-trial investigation, the cyberpolice identified two more drops. The group members used the latter’s bank accounts to transfer the victims’ money.
Law enforcement officers, with the force support of the TOR battalion, conducted five searches in Lviv city, Lviv and Zaporizzhya regions: at the residence of one of the offenders and in correctional facilities. Mobile phones, bank and SIM cards, and notes were seized.
The operation has already identified 20 people who suffered from the illegal activities of the fraudsters.
Investigators served a notice of suspicion to the organiser and two executors under Part 4 and 5 of Article 190 (Fraud) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Two more persons, who searched for bank cards for the criminals, were served a notice of suspicion under Part 5 of Art. 27, Part 4 of Art. 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The full range of victims and the amount of damage is being established.