Police officers of Vinnytsia region liquidated a large-scale enemy bot-farm
Fake posts and comments on social networks were allegedly published from ordinary citizens of Ukraine. Botofarm had at least 4,000 fake accounts. For each bot created, offenders received payment in rubles. Now they face up to 15 years in prison for their actions.
The criminal activity of the enemy botfarm in favor of the aggressor was exposed by the investigators of the Vinnytsia District Police Department, the regional head together with the operatives of the department of combating cybercrimes in the Vinnytsia region. The group consisted of three Vinnytsia residents aged 30, 38 and 42. The attackers organized the work of the “botfarm” using Russian services. Every day, they registered about 500 anonymous accounts on various social networks, online trading platforms, messengers, in particular, banned in Ukraine.
Bot accounts in social networks were used to discredit the Ukrainian Defense Forces, justify the armed aggression of the Russian Federation, form public opinion among Ukrainians in the interests of the enemy, and shake up the socio-political situation in the country.
Fake accounts have also been used to commit fraudulent activities on trading platforms.
For the services provided, the attackers received payments in Russian rubles. In the future, with the help of sanctioned payment systems “WebMoney” “PerfectMoney”, they were converted into cryptocurrency and issued to controlled bank cards.
The total circulation of funds received by offenders from the criminal activities of “botoferma” amounted to more than half a million hryvnias per month.
“Botoferma” was arranged by the attackers in the garage of the regional center. During the searches, law enforcement officers seized computer equipment with evidence of illegal activity, mobile phones, more than 3300 SIM cards of Ukrainian and European mobile operators, 13 SIM gateways and other equipment and software, bank cards through which they received money from “customers”.
Investigative actions were carried out under the operational support of USBU employees in Vinnytsia region. Procedural management is carried out by the Vinnytsia District Prosecutor's Office.
National Police of Ukraine
