Thousands of Ukrainian Entrepreneurs Registered to Shared Phone Numbers

Discovery of Bulk Phone Numbers in Ukraine

According to Главком: Ukrainian authorities have identified thousands of shared phone numbers used to register sole proprietorships, known as FOPs. The highest concentrations of these numbers are in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Experts are concerned that these bulk numbers are frequently linked to the retail trade sector.

Data shows that a phone number is classified as 'mass' if it is listed during the registration of at least five different FOPs. Ukraine has recorded 3,368 such contact numbers. A single number can be associated with:

• 1,549 active FOPs,
• 786 currently operating entrepreneurs,
• 773 FOP registrations.

Kyiv has the highest number of these bulk numbers at 1,020, followed by Kharkiv region with 741, Kyiv region with 640, and Dnipropetrovsk region with 595.

Bulk Phone Numbers Predominant in Trade Sectors

These shared numbers are most commonly used by entrepreneurs in retail trade, which accounts for 2,013 numbers. Wholesale trade uses 963 bulk numbers, IT uses 922, the HoReCa sector uses 787, and real estate uses 617. The same shared number can be used by entrepreneurs in different regions simultaneously, complicating registration oversight. This practice is a known red flag for potential regulatory evasion in many economies.

Furthermore, 3,380 numbers are classified as mass-use for both FOPs and companies. It is noteworthy that sole proprietors paid UAH 59.88 billion in unified tax to the budget last year, a 9% increase from 2024. This data raises significant questions about the transparency and legitimacy of the country's business registration processes.

The discovery of bulk phone numbers used for FOP registration underscores potential systemic vulnerabilities in Ukraine's entrepreneur registration system.

This situation prompts concerns about possible abuses and schemes that could hinder business oversight and affect tax revenues. It may lead state authorities to review FOP registration procedures and strengthen control over their activities to ensure a legitimate and transparent business environment in Ukraine.