In the city of Kyiv, the SBU cyber specialists blocked a large-scale mechanism of extorting money from individuals. To implement the scheme, the perpetrators illegally took out online personal loans. More than 60,000 persons fell victims of the pseudo debt collectors.

The scheme was organized by the owners of two lending financial institutions. Using their customer databases, the scammers issued fictitious online loans at 1500% APR, then simulated debt and demanded its repayment.

In case of refusal to pay “debts”, the perpetrators threatened the victims with physical violence.

The organizers of the scheme involved more than 50 so-called "telephone debt collectors" who put psychological pressure on the "debtors".

To make these activities look legitimate, the scammers sent knowingly false reports on debts and penalties to banking institutions and regulatory authorities.

During the searches of the suspects’ offices, the law enforcement seized:

• hardware and software used to anonymize phone numbers;
• almost 50 units of computers used to administer the customer databases carried out the accounting of pseudo-debts;
• documents proving the illegal activity.

The perpetrators are to receive notices of suspicion. A type of detention is to be chosen.

The criminal proceedings were initiated upon extortion and illegal actions in respect of remittance documents, payment cards and other means providing access to bank accounts, electronic money, and equipment for their production. The investigation is ongoing to bring to justice all persons involved in the illegal activity.

The operation was carried out by officers of the SBU Main Directorate in Kyiv city and Kyiv region under the supervision of the Sviatoshynskyi District Prosecutor's Office of Kyiv city.