SBU Cyber experts exposed phone scams. The offenders made international calls under the guise of local ones violating the protection of Ukrainian mobile operators. They guaranteed their customers complete anonymity while calling abroad. The offenders earned almost USD 20 000 per month.

The investigation established that residents of Odesa acquired special telecommunications equipment and software to redirect mobile communication channels.

The said calls provided complete anonymity and could be used to harm the State's interests.

To ensure conspiracy, the perpetrators placed the ancillary equipment in cars of local taxi drivers, who constantly changed their location and simulated the real subscribers’ activities.

During searches of offenders’ residences and vehicles, law enforcement officers seized computer equipment with installed special software, telecommunication equipment (GSM-gateways, GSM-modems, SIM Banks), sim-cards of mobile operators and draft documents, proving the illegal activity.

The investigative actions are underway to establish all the circumstances of the offense and to bring to justice all involved individuals for unauthorized interference with the work of telecommunication networks.

The operation was conducted by the SBU Office in Odesa region jointly with the SBU Cyber Department and National Police investigators in Odesa region under the supervision of Odesa Region Prosecutor’s Office.