National Police conduct over 400 searches, shut down 94 fraudulent call centers
Over the course of a week, police officers, together with the Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General’s Office, inspected the infrastructure of fraudulent call centers whose operators posed as bankers, brokers, and law enforcement officers to gain access to people’s bank accounts.
Over a week, Ukrainian police, along with the Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General’s Office, conducted over 400 searches and shut down 94 fraudulent call centers. The operation resulted in the discovery of 1,794 fully equipped workstations and the seizure of various assets, including 90 bank cards, 20 crypto wallets, and 22 vehicles.
Additionally, authorities confiscated approximately $2 million, 64 thousand euros, cash in hryvnias, a kilogram of investment gold in bars, and jewelry. Police emphasize that these centers operated under the guise of financial institutions, brokers, and law enforcement, all with the goal of obtaining funds or access to victims' bank accounts.
Operators employed various tactics, such as impersonating banks to report suspicious transactions, acting as brokers to lure victims into investing in fake platforms, and offering help to recover previously lost funds. Some call centers specialized in targeting individuals interested in investing, while others sold unapproved dietary supplements.
In one instance, Ukrainian police collaborated with German authorities to investigate a network targeting European Union citizens. The criminal charges, which include fraud and property laundering, carry a maximum sentence of up to 12 years in prison. Police are currently analyzing seized equipment and financial transactions, identifying victims, determining the full extent of damages, and seeking out the masterminds behind these scams.
Written by urgent.news from Interfax-Ukraine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
