Ukraine’s National Police Detain 14 Individuals Linked to Cryptocurrency Criminal Ring
The National Police of Ukraine has successfully apprehended a criminal call center ring that was involved in defrauding individuals by promising them lucrative cryptocurrency investments. According to a local report, the fraudsters targeted citizens from Ukraine, Moldova, Kazakhstan, and the European Union through deceptive call centers.
The national police have arrested 14 suspects, including the alleged organizers of the criminal ring. Additionally, they have seized 12 luxury cars, 136 pieces of computer equipment, 951 SIM cards, 455 starter packs, and a substantial amount of cash totaling $64,500.
Investigations have revealed that two Georgian nationals are suspected to be the masterminds behind the cryptocurrency crime in Ukraine. These individuals have a history of involvement in criminal activities. Furthermore, they recruited 12 other unsuspecting individuals to participate in their illegal operations.
Authorities have emphasized that they are actively investigating the case and are determined to determine the total amount of fraud committed as well as the number of victims involved.
The Ukraine police have also released video footage of the raids carried out in connection with the cryptocurrency call center scam. The video description reveals that one of the organizers of the fraudulent call center network had close ties with a criminal known as “Hmp.”
The call center employees skillfully posed as stock exchange experts and convinced gullible individuals from various countries to invest their money in cryptocurrencies. The police conducted a special operation to dismantle the criminal organization and apprehend its members.
The fraudsters employed psychological tactics to persuade victims about the high profitability of their investments. As a result, victims transferred their funds to the criminals’ electronic wallets and bank cards, as explained by Ukrainian officials.
Interestingly, each perpetrator had specific roles within the fraudulent schemes, such as recruiting staff, providing a blueprint for the business, and sharing profits among themselves.
The suspects are currently in custody and will soon face further legal proceedings at the Kyiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, as stated by the authorities.
Meanwhile, the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) has stated that cryptocurrency is not considered as legal tender and has expressed its intention to regulate the sector.
