Kyiv Fraud Ring Busted for Targeting Bereaved Military Families
Authorities in Kyiv have uncovered a three-person criminal group that posed as clairvoyants to extort money from the families of soldiers who were killed or are missing in action. The fraudsters caused losses of at least 1.4 million hryvnias to three confirmed victims. All three suspects have been formally notified of suspicion under the article of the Criminal Code of Ukraine pertaining to fraud.
How the Scam Operated
The suspects presented themselves as 'hereditary clairvoyants' and operated through websites, phone calls, and messaging apps. The scheme was allegedly organized by a 50-year-old resident of the Cherkasy region. She involved relatives and acquaintances, aged 18 to 60, in the criminal activity. To attract victims, the group financed targeted online advertising, which helped them find new targets.
- One victim, the wife of a fallen soldier, transferred nearly 1 million hryvnias, paying between 6,000 and 50,000 hryvnias for individual 'consultations.'
- Another victim paid 370,000 hryvnias, including 5,000 hryvnias for each 'magic candle.'
- The criminals pressured their victims into taking out loans and pawning valuables, plunging them into deeper financial distress.
The Darnytsia District Prosecutor's Office of Kyiv is overseeing the proceedings. The suspects' actions are classified under Parts 4 and 5 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (fraud). This case is part of a disturbing trend of wartime fraud; for instance, in the Lviv region, a man was recently detained for swindling over 2.1 million hryvnias from the relatives of a missing soldier.
This case highlights the ongoing issue of fraudsters exploiting the emotional vulnerability of those who have lost loved ones in the war.
Amid the social and economic hardships caused by the war, criminals are actively preying on the grief of bereaved families, inflicting additional suffering. It is crucial for the public to be aware of such schemes and know how to recognize them to avoid financial ruin and further emotional trauma. Such scams are a particularly cruel form of exploitation during a national crisis.