Police in Vinnytsia region announced suspicion of the organizers of an international fraudulent scheme of appropriation of millions of hryvnias under the pretext of surrogate motherhood
Investigators of the investigative department of the GUNP in the Vinnytsia region announced suspicion of committing particularly large fraudulent actions to two members of the criminal group, who, under the pretext of providing services of assisted reproductive technologies by the method of surrogate motherhood, appropriated funds of citizens, mainly foreigners. For fictitious services, attackers received rewards from customers in the amount of 30 to 50 thousand US dollars. According to operational information, about 50 people suffered from the actions of the suspects.
According to the deputy head of the GUNP in the Vinnytsia region Oleksandr Soldatov, a 35-year-old Vinnytsia resident, previously convicted of committing selfish crimes, in order to enrich himself, developed a criminal scheme of appropriation of citizens' funds by abusing their trust and deception. Together with the sharecroppers, he registered fictitious clinics for the provision of paid services for the use of assisted reproductive technologies by the method of surrogate motherhood.
To search for customers, attackers placed advertising information on the Internet without having a license for this type of activity.
In addition, they offered a number of services that provided the right to participate in the surrogacy program, namely: the conclusion of a sham marriage, the inclusion of knowingly false information in medical documents, and the search for surrogate mothers. After the full settlement or receipt of most of the funds for the services, the attackers stopped communicating with customers.
Thus, the investigation established that in 2019 and 2020 the suspect entered into contracts for the provision of such services with a citizen of the People's Republic of China and spouses from Kiev who, due to health reasons, could not have children. Trusting the attackers, the victims transferred more than two million hryvnias to their accounts.
During the searches, investigators seized from the suspects false certificates of marriage of foreigners with citizens of Ukraine, contracts for the provision of intermediary services, notarized powers of attorney, medical documentation, “black” accounting, seals, bank cards, on the accounts of which were rubbed people transferred money, foreign currency in large quantities.
To the organizer of such criminal activity and his 26-year-old accomplice, the investigators declared a suspicion under Part 4 of Art. 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (fraud committed on a particularly large scale or by an organized group). Also in their actions are seen signs of the crime provided for in Part 2 of Art. 149 Criminal Code of Ukraine (trafficking in human beings).
Currently, the police are identifying other individuals involved in this criminal activity and identifying the victims.
For the 35-year-old attacker during the pre-trial investigation, the court chose a preventive measure - round-the-clock house arrest, and his accomplice - night house arrest. For such crimes, suspects face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.
Investigative actions continue under the procedural guidance of the prosecutor's office of the region. Operational support is provided by the Department of Security Service of Ukraine, Department of Strategic Investigations, Migration and Border Services.
Police Communications Department
Vinnytsia Oblast
