The SSU exposed an illicit non-bank money transfer scheme. The network’s office in Kyiv specialized in shadow money transfers to and from the occupied Crimea. Millions of US dollars passed through the scam.

According to the investigation, the organizers were from Kyiv and the Crimea. They used payment systems banned in Ukraine (WebMoney, Qiwi and Mir) and crypto currencies to evade taxation, transfer funds anonymously and remain beyond the monitoring of authorities.

The offenders breached Ukrainian legislation and, to cash virtual funds, they converted them to bit coins first. The clients received cash in the network’s offices in Kyiv and temporarily occupied Sevastopol.

During the search of the network’s Kyiv office, law enforcement seized:

• over USD 750 000;
• almost € 650 000;
• large amount of national currency;

Shevchenkivskyi District Court in Kyiv seized the confiscated funds.

Investigation is underway to identify and bring to justice all those involved in the crime.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Cyber Security Department jointly with the investigators of the Main SSU Directorate in the Crimea under the supervision of the General Prosecutor’s Office.