Police of Sumy region exposed a criminal group that engaged in fraud on popular online advertising services, transportation and sale of goods
During the investigation, the police established the involvement of the defendants in the commission of more than 100 facts of illegal seizure of money. Currently, 30 victims have been identified, of which 10 are military personnel of the Armed Forces.
Organized illegal activities by a repeatedly convicted detainee of the Sumy Correctional Institution. The organizer attracted three more people to the criminal group: two inmates of the detention center and another citizen for financial transactions with bank cards, to which the victims transferred funds. Subsequently, the latter transferred money to the leader of the criminal group through transfers to the prison. The main “tool” of illegal actions for attackers were smartphones.
The defendants placed advertisements about the sale of goods or passenger transportation within the country, received subscriptions for non-existent services and disappeared. Due to the demand in the face of power outages, intruders placed advertisements for the sale of generators and battery systems. The investigation has already identified two victims who managed to transfer 11 thousand hryvnia deposit for 2 power generators. After crediting the funds to bank cards, the attackers were no longer able to get in touch. Buyers planned to send electrical devices to the front for the needs of servicemen.
The attackers and the soldiers themselves were also searched. In one case, the defenders wanted to get from the western regions to the capital. Men, having entered the card details and paid for the transportation service through an electronic wallet, received an SMS about the withdrawal of the entire existing balance. The total amount of damage caused is established.
On November 22, the operatives of the Directorate of Strategic Investigations in Sumy Oblast, together with the investigators of the Investigative Department of the Sumy Region Police, conducted authorized searches in five different cities around the places of residence of the defendants and in the premises of the Sumy Detention Center. Law enforcement seized mobile phones, SIM cards, bank cards, documents and “rough” records.
Three defendants were notified of suspicions under Part 2 of Article 190 (fraud) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. For criminal activity, the suspect faces imprisonment for up to three years
The procedural guidance in the pre-trial investigation is carried out by the Sumy Regional Prosecutor's Office. The events were held with the participation of the operational unit of Sumy SIZO.
National Police of Ukraine
