The capital's cyberpolice exposed a group of attackers in fraud under the guise of passenger transportation
Using a vulnerability in the mobile application of the international taxi service, those involved made changes to the information about the trips. In this way, the attackers appropriated at least 200 thousand hryvnias.
Law enforcement officers conducted 5 searches of the members of the group. The seized property, in particular $70 thousand, was arrested. The organizer was informed of the suspicion. A 23-year-old resident of the capital organized the fraudulent scheme, which attracted accomplices to it. The defendants created a Telegram channel, where they accepted orders for passenger transportation at reduced rates.
In the future, fraudsters created corresponding orders in the mobile application of one of the popular taxi services. Using vulnerabilities in the application, scammers changed the order information. In this way, the offenders appropriated funds for the trip. The funds received from the criminal activity were credited to the numbers of the bank accounts controlled by the attackers.
According to preliminary data, the defendants caused losses to the international company of 5 thousand euros, which is equivalent to almost 200 thousand hryvnias.
Police conducted 5 searches in the homes and cars of the defendants. More than 70 thousand dollars, computer equipment, data stores, mobile phones, bank cards, SIM holders, car and “rough” records were seized. During the investigative actions, the attackers unsuccessfully tried to destroy notes containing important evidentiary information. The seized property, in particular cash in foreign currency, was arrested.
Investigators opened criminal proceedings under Part 3 of Art. 190 (Fraud) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The sanction of the article provides for up to five years in prison. The organizer was declared a suspicion and a request was sent to the court to choose a preventive measure in the form of detention.
Based on the results of the analysis of the evidence collected during the searches, a decision will be made to declare suspicion to other participants of the fraudulent scheme. Investigative actions are ongoing in order to establish possible accomplices of the attackers and the total amount of damage caused.
National Police of Ukraine
