In Lviv region, an indictment has been submitted to court against a minor resident of Stryi district, who is accused of fraud involving the reissuance of SIM cards, misappropriation of funds belonging to private individuals and a financial institution, as well as a series of related criminal offences. This was reported by the Stryi District Prosecutor’s Office.
According to the investigation, in 2024 the then 15-year-old boy implemented a scheme to misappropriate citizens’ funds by reissuing SIM cards. He called the victims, introduced himself as an employee of a mobile operator and informed them of an alleged need to extend the validity period of their SIM cards. On this pretext, he obtained the confirmation codes required for reissuance, after which he had the cards reissued to his own numbers.
In this way, the accused gained access to the victims’ online banking services and disposed of the funds in other people’s accounts at his own discretion: he transferred money to third-party bank cards, took out online loans and purchased an “iPhone 17” worth over UAH 72,000. In total, according to the investigation, he defrauded three women and a financial institution of almost UAH 110,000.
In addition to fraud, the minor is charged with other offences. In September 2025, the court deprived him of the right to drive vehicles for a period of 5 years; however, despite the ban, he continued to drive a car purchased with funds obtained by fraudulent means. In February this year, during one of his journeys, he was stopped by patrol officers for a traffic violation, and during a search of the car, psychotropic substances PVP and amphetamine were found and seized.
At the same time, in June 2026, the court had already convicted the minor for similar fraudulent and related criminal offences, sentencing him to 3 years and 6 months’ imprisonment. Immediately after this verdict was announced, he was notified of a new suspicion.
Within the current proceedings, the young man is charged with the unlawful collection, storage, use, destruction and dissemination of confidential personal information; fraud committed by means of unlawful operations using computer equipment; unlawful acquisition, storage and transportation of psychotropic substances without intent to sell; unauthorised interference with the operation of information (automated), electronic communications and information and communications systems, electronic communications networks; deliberate failure to comply with a court decision that has entered into legal force (Part 1 Article 182, Part 4 Article 190, Part 1 Article 309, Parts 1, 2 Article 361, Part 1 Article 382 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
The pre-trial investigation was carried out by investigators of Police Department No. 2 of the Stryi District Police Directorate of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Lviv region, with operational support from the Cybercrime Counteraction Unit in Lviv region of the Cyber Police Department of the National Police of Ukraine.
Pursuant to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and may not be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt has been proven in accordance with the law and established by a guilty verdict of a court.