In Vinnytsia region, the SSU exposed a transnational criminal scheme for providing fictitious surrogacy services.

At least 50 foreigners and citizens of Ukraine have used the bogus services offered by the perpetrators, who misappropriated nearly USD 1 m.

A businessman from Vinnytsia organized the scam: together with his accomplices, he set up several private companies, including a pseudoclinic, having neither a medical license, nor staff.

The group offered clients a full surrogacy program:

• contracting a fake marriage;
• falsifying medical records;
• searching for surrogate mothers.

According to the investigation, the group posted false statements claiming the successes of a ‘leading medical clinic’. In this way, they looked for foreign clients, who were their focus.

The fraudsters charged from USD 30,000 to 50,000 for their services. After receiving full or most of the payment, the clinic stopped responding to the client. Only as an exception, surrogate mothers gave birth to children for customers, who were led to believe that they participated in a fertility treatment program.

In the searches of the suspects’ offices, homes and vehicles, law enforcement seized:

• medical records with the evidence of illegal activity;
• certificates of marriage between foreigners and Ukrainian women;
• agreements with foreigners on intermediary services;
• statements recognizing the parentage of foreign citizens;
• powers of attorney signed by Ukrainian women regarding representation of interests;
• false accounting, bank cards used for transactions and a large amount of foreign cash.

The SSU notified the organizer and his accomplice of suspicion of fraud.

Investigation is underway to identify all individuals involved and verify if trafficking in human beings or other unlawful transactions involving a human have been committed.

The SSU carried out the operation jointly with the National Police of Ukraine in Vinnytsia region and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine under the supervision of Vinnytsia Region Prosecutor’s Office.