Migration police exposed a criminal group in the production of fake education documents
Forged documents were used for employment abroad, as well as illegal legalization of foreign citizens in Ukraine. Attackers received orders through specially created websites. It was established that in 2019-2020, the participants of the group “earned” more than 26 million hryvnias. The pre-trial investigation continues.
During the investigation, the police of Lviv region received information, in particular from the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in the city. Lviv, regarding fake education documents for obtaining long-term work visas and residence permits. It was found that the Consulate received about 100 applications for long-term visas and residence permits, to which applicants attached knowingly forged educational documents.
It turned out that the criminal group, which operated on the territory of Ukraine, included about 10 people. Among the organizers is a 40-year-old Kyiv resident, who has been repeatedly prosecuted before. Most of the members of the group are residents of Kyiv and Kyiv region.
The attackers developed a criminal plan for the production and sale of knowingly forged documents on secondary, secondary special and higher education (in particular, certificates/diplomas/certificates/certificates, appendices with grades to them) with a detailed distribution of the roles of each member of the group.
To carry out criminal activities, they created several websites where “clients” placed orders for fake diplomas. On the sites they posted information about the provision of paid services for the production of knowingly forged documents on education issued on behalf of any educational institutions on the territory of Ukraine and for any specialties/qualifications/professions.
Calls from customers through the site were received by the “operator”. He provided information to customers about his services, their cost. After processing, the applications were processed by a “manager”, with whom the customers discussed all the details. Delivery was carried out by couriers from the criminal group, through post offices or by pickup within Kiev. Also included in the group were persons who provided personal bank accounts for the transfer and withdrawal of money for “services”.
The cost of producing knowingly forged education documents dated before 2000 was 7500 hryvnias, and after 2000 — 12,500 hryvnias. At the same time, to accept the order for work, the buyer must pay a subscription in the amount of 5% of the total cost of services, transferring these funds to the bank accounts of attackers.
During the pre-trial investigation, the police found that in 2019-2020, the group was enriched by 26.1 million hryvnias for its criminal actions.
In April of this year, employees of the Department of Migration Police of the National Police of Ukraine, the Department of Migration Police of Lviv, Kyiv regions and the city of Kyiv, together with the investigators of the GUNP in the Lviv region, with the involvement of special officers of the Lviv region police and under the procedural leadership of the Lviv Regional Prosecutor's Office conducted 12 simultaneous sanctioned searches in Kyiv.
During the searches, physical evidence was discovered and seized, including mock-ups and ready-made forged documents, materials and equipment for their manufacture, “rough” records, money, mobile phones, bank cards, laptops, flash drives, etc.
Currently, a pre-trial investigation is underway within the framework of criminal proceedings opened on the grounds of criminal offenses provided for in Part 4 of Art. 358 (Forgery of documents, seals, stamps and forms, sale or use of forged documents, seals, stamps), part 3 of Art. 190 (Fraud) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The issue of notifying attackers of suspicion of committing these offenses, in particular as part of a criminal group, is resolved.
Communications Department of the National Police of Ukraine
according to the materials of the Department of Migration Police
