Ukrainian Security Service Busts Fraud Ring Targeting Released War Prisoners

In Kharkiv Oblast, SBU cyber specialists detained a group of individuals suspected of fraud who deceived defenders released from captivity, promising additional payments from the state. The victims were servicemen from various regions of Ukraine, said the spokesperson of the regional SBU administration, Vladyslav Abdula.

According to investigators, the organizer of the group was a 20-year-old resident of Odesa, previously convicted of fraud and currently on probation. His own brother joined the criminal scheme, according to police.

“The scammers convinced victims that payments were going to be credited to their accounts, but due to “technical problems” the funds were not credited. To “resolve the issue,” the scammers extorted one-time codes via SMS, using which they logged into online banking and gained full control over the accounts. Documented cases where a service member was persuaded to send his bank card by mail, after which it was used to withdraw cash and to purchase goods in jewelry stores, electronics retail networks, grocery and alcohol supermarkets.”

“The scammers convinced the victims that payments were going to be credited to their accounts, but due to “technical problems” the funds were not credited. To “resolve the issue,” the scammers extorted one-time codes via SMS, using which they logged into online banking and gained full control over the accounts. Documented cases where a service member was persuaded to send his bank card by mail, after which it was used to withdraw cash and to purchase goods in jewelry stores, electronics retail networks, grocery and alcohol supermarkets.”

Key Details of the Case and Outcomes

According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, seven episodes of misappropriating victims’ funds totaling over 970 thousand hryvnias have been documented.

The SBU and the National Police uncovered a criminal group that swindled defenders who were released from Russian captivity. Those involved in the case face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

Investigations are ongoing to identify other participants and bring them to justice.