In Rivne oblast, the SSU and the National Police shut down a criminal scheme of extorting money from relatives of missing Ukrainian servicemen.

The scheme was organized by three inmates of a local penal colony serving sentences for serious crimes.

The convicts found people on the Internet who were looking for their loved ones, combatants. They called such people and introduced themselves as military servicemen.

In exchange for money, they offered citizens ‘help’ in establishing the whereabouts and health status of the missing soldiers or even ‘help’ in releasing them from captivity.

The cost of such ‘services’ ranged from 3,000 to almost 100,000 UAH. The amount depended on emotional and psychological state of the victims and their financial capabilities.

The fraudsters requested to transfer the ‘payment’ to the bank cards of a prisoner’s acquaintance. After receiving the money, the offenders would stop communicating with the victim and never contacted them again.

According to the investigation, the fraudsters looked for their victims in communities in popular social networks, which they joined from fake accounts.

There, they found data on missing soldiers and entered into private communication with their relatives.

During the conversations, the perpetrators used manipulative methods and psychological pressure.

During the searches of the penitentiary facility and at the home of their accomplice at large, the law enforcement seized:

• cell phones and tablets;
• almost 2 dozen SIM cards of various mobile operators, to which fake accounts were registered and from which the offenders called the victims;
• 5 bank cards used to get money from victims;
• draft records with evidence of the crime.

The individuals involved will be served notices of suspicion under Article 190.3 of the CCU (fraud). The investigation is ongoing.

The SSU Office in Rivne region and the National Police carried out the operation under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.