Cyber Police Uncover Fake Fortune-Teller Scam That Defrauded Military Families of 1.5 Million

Scammers Exposed in Kyiv

According to Главком: In a joint operation, Kyiv's Cyber Police, investigators from the Darnytsia District Police, and prosecutors from the Darnytsia District Prosecutor's Office have exposed a criminal group. Posing as providers of esoteric services, the fraudsters swindled nearly 1.5 million hryvnias from citizens, including families of active-duty soldiers and fallen defenders. Several members of the group have now been formally notified of suspicion and face up to 12 years of imprisonment.

Law enforcement discovered a network of fake fortune-tellers who deceived Ukrainians, using the internet and phone calls to find clients. The scheme was masterminded by a 50-year-old resident of the Cherkasy region, who recruited her relatives and acquaintances into the business. The scammers deliberately targeted individuals in vulnerable psychological states.

The Victims and Their Stories

One victim, Olga (name changed), contacted a clairvoyant out of concern for her mother's health. Over six months of communication with the fortune-teller, the woman handed over almost a million hryvnias. She recalled:

"I need to save my mom. Send a photo. She needed the date of birth. She did a kind of diagnosis. For that, she takes 500 hryvnias."

Another victim, Iryna, explained she turned to a fortune-teller after a difficult period in her life. Olga noted that the clairvoyant informed her of the need to perform rituals:

"Rituals need to be performed for all three of you. And she says plus the apartment for four people, meaning the sum is 77,000 hryvnias."

During searches of the suspects' properties, officers seized candles, occult paraphernalia, over 400,000 hryvnias in cash, an unregistered firearm, dozens of phones, electronic devices, and bank cards.

This case highlights a disturbing trend of fraudsters exploiting the heightened anxiety and grief experienced by many during wartime. Several members of the group have been notified of suspicion for fraud, carrying a potential penalty of up to 12 years in prison with property confiscation. In a related development, a man was detained in the Lviv region for defrauding relatives of a missing soldier of over 2.1 million hryvnias. Separately, Kyiv police reported suspicion to a 43-year-old resident of Dnipro. Posing as the common-law wife of a missing serviceman, she misappropriated nearly 10,000 euros that he had been awarded by the European Court of Human Rights.

These incidents underscore the critical need for vigilance against fraudulent schemes that prey on people's vulnerability, especially during war. Law enforcement agencies are intensifying efforts to combat fraud targeting victims left without support, particularly military families. Investigating such crimes is a vital step in protecting citizens' rights and deterring similar actions in the future.