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Ukrainian investigators have uncovered a scheme targeting residents of the country and the European Union with various financial scams, including some related to cryptocurrencies. The criminal organization members contacted their victims through call centers to collect personal financial information.
Officers from the Main Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) have dismantled a criminal group operating schemes designed to misappropriate funds from the citizens of the country and a number of EU nations. The members offered investors to participate in the exchange of crypto-assets, securities and commodities.
Investigators found that the fraudsters established a network of call centers and posed as officials from government banking institutions to obtain credit card data. They used high-tech equipment and software that allowed them to change their phone numbers to look like they were the official numbers of the banks.
The organizers of the scheme used fake websites and exchange platforms to trade fiat and digital currencies, securities, gold and oil. To attract investment funds, they promised profits in a short time, the National Police of Ukraine stated in a press release published on Tuesday.
In addition, the fraudsters also gained access to a database with contact information of foreign nationals who have previously been subjected to similar attempts. On behalf of a so-called “Community of cryptocurrency brokers”, they offered victims to track and return their stolen cryptocurrency for a “commission”.
After accepting the services of the non-existent entity, these individuals were sent details for the transfer of the commission to accounts controlled by the members of the criminal scheme. After receiving the funds, the “brokers” suddenly cut off communication and the lost cryptocurrency was never returned.
In searches carried out by Ukrainian law enforcement authorities at the addresses of the customer centers, computer equipment, mobile phones and records confirming the illegal activities were seized. If found guilty under the provisions of the Criminal Code of Ukraine for large-scale fraud committed by an organized group and the use, distribution or sale of malicious software, the perpetrators could face up to 12 years in prison.
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Image credit: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons, National Police of Ukraine
