A fraudulent call centre has been uncovered in the Lviv region, whose operators were extracting money from citizens of Ukraine and European Union countries. According to law enforcement officers, the victims together lost more than 2.7 million hryvnias in hryvnia equivalent. This was reported by the Lviv region cyber police.
According to the investigation, the fraudulent scheme was organised by two residents of Lviv region, who later involved four more individuals, one of whom was a minor. Members of the group operated through a specially created call centre.
The individuals involved posed as employees of financial services and, under the pretext of refunding money allegedly lost on investment platforms or providing additional financial services, persuaded citizens to transfer funds to cryptocurrency wallets and exchanges under their control. The sums received were then converted into cash and distributed among the members of the group.
Six victims have so far been identified, who together lost more than 2.7 million hryvnias. The two organisers have been notified that they are under suspicion under Part 3 of Article 27 and Part 5 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (fraud committed repeatedly, under martial law, by means of unlawful operations using computer equipment, by an organised group). A further four members of the group have been served with suspicion notices under Part 5 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
According to law enforcement officers, the suspects face up to twelve years’ imprisonment with confiscation of property.