In Kyiv, the SSU cyber units have exposed a ‘workshop’ which counterfeited and sold documents, seals and stamps of Ukraine and the EU.

The organizer of the criminal business offered fake passports, driver’s licenses, vehicle registration certificates and land titles.

The ‘clients’ could also buy from him fake degrees from Ukrainian higher education institutions.

The counterfeits were sold through Darknet.

The costs ranged from USD 300 to 7,000. The price depended on the complexity of the ‘order’ and its urgency.

The monthly turnover of the clandestine workshop reached 50 or more ‘documents’.

According to the investigation, the criminal activity was organized by a Kyiv businessman. The ‘production facility’ was set up in a rented apartment.

Mainly, the ‘clients’ were draft evaders and hackers who used fakes to cover up their unlawful activities.

During the searches in the ‘facility’, the SSU found:

• tools and equipment for the production of counterfeits;
• mobile phones and computers with evidence of the crime.

Based on the collected evidence, the forger was served a notice of suspicion under two Articles of the CCU:

• 199.1 (manufacturing, storage, acquisition, transportation, shipment, importation into Ukraine for use in the sale of goods, sale of counterfeit money, government securities in paper form, state lottery tickets, excise tax stamps or holographic security elements);
• 358.3 (forgery of documents, seals, stamps and forms, sale or use of forged documents, seals, stamps).

Court is to decide on a measure of restraint. The investigation is ongoing. The suspect is facing up to 7 years in prison.

The SSU carried out the operation and investigative actions jointly with the National Police under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.