The SBU officers blocked activities of illegal call centers. Representing “well-known brokerage companies”, the offenders extorted money from the EU and CIS citizens. The victims wanted to benefit from the stock market.

Allegedly, in city of Kyiv, a group of Ukrainians and foreigners organized the illegal scheme. While in Ukraine, they coordinated the activities of the cross-border fraud scheme.

The operatives established that the offenders acted on behalf of “well-known brokerage companies” and offered to make money by trading in currency and cryptocurrency, securities, gold and oil.

The perpetrators “guaranteed” the victims to receive extra profit in a short time. After receiving money, the offenders misappropriated funds and blocked the victims.

Also, the group members, using the contact bases of other offenders, offered the victims to return the lost investment for a “fee”. After receiving of the funds, the offenders immediately blocked their clients.

The law enforcement officers conducted searches of the perpetrators’ residences and the locations of the “call centers”. During the investigation, the law enforcement seized:

• Illegally obtained UAH 2 m (USD 72,000),
• server equipment,
• flash media,
• documents confirming illegal activity.

The investigation is ongoing to bring the organizers of the scheme to justice.

The operation was conducted by the SBU Main Directorate for Counterintelligence Protection of the State’s Interests in the Economic Sphere.