Prosecutors of the Lviv Regional Prosecutor’s Office completed the pre-trial investigation and filed an indictment against 4 members of a criminal organization on charges of fraud, creation of a criminal organization, unauthorized interference in information (automated) systems and creation of malicious programs (Part 4 of Article 28 – Part 4 of Article 190 , part 1, part 2 of article 255, part 4 of article 28 – part 5 of article 361, part 4 of article 28 – part 2 of article 361-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine)
The investigation established that the accused organized a scheme to rob citizens with the help of so-called phishing sites. They mass-sent text messages with information about the possibility of receiving aid from the state, including for internally displaced persons. The messages included links to fake websites of banking institutions.
On them, the victims entered their real data to access online banking.
In this way, members of the organization received access codes to the victims’ bank accounts and could take possession of their funds.
Law enforcement officers have blocked the operation of phishing sites.
Currently, all the accused are in custody. At the prosecutor’s request, the court seized their property.
The pre-trial investigation in criminal proceedings was carried out by investigators of the investigative department of the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Lviv region, under the operational support of the Cybercrime Countermeasures Department in the Lviv region.
Note: in accordance with Art. 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until his guilt is proven in a legal manner and established by a court verdict.
Department of Information Policy
Lviv Regional Prosecutor’s Office