SSU detains fraudster who extorted UAH 1 mln from wife of captured Azovstal defender and promised to exchange him
The SSU has shut down another scheme of extorting money from relatives of Ukrainian servicemen who are in captivity or missing.
As a result of an operation in Kyiv region, the SSU Main Directorate for Internal Security detained a woman who was ‘making’ money on relatives of Mariupol defenders.
She promised to help with the return of Ukrainian defenders home and demanded money to speed up the process.
The Service documented the fraudster receiving almost UAH 1 mln from the wife of an Azovstal defender who is in russian captivity.
During the conversation with the victim, the fraudster told her about supposed personal connections in the administration of the russian prison where the soldier is being held.
The perpetrator manipulated the victim’s psycho-emotional state and threatened her with bad consequences for the prisoner in case she doesn’t get the money.
The SSU detained the suspect in her apartment when she received a new money transfer from the victim. A mobile phone and bank cards with evidence of her crime were seized.
SSU investigators have now served her a notice of suspicion under Article 190.4 of the CCU (large-scale fraud).
The suspect faces up to 8 years in prison.
The operation was carried out under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Please note that the liberation of prisoners of war is exclusively within the competence of state authorities.
If you or someone you know is in a situation where unknown persons are demanding money for a ‘release’ of a relative from captivity, please contact the Joint Centre for Search and Liberation of PoWs immediately:
Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram: +38 067 650-83-32 or email united_center@ssu.gov.ua
