Fraudulent call centers in Ukraine could earn up to $1 billion per month — Zheleznyak

Networks of fraudulent call centers in Ukraine, according to international researchers, could generate up to $1 billion a month and employ around 60,000 workers. Their victims live not only in Russia, but in at least 29 countries around the world. This was stated in a video by MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak.

Fraudulent call centers in Ukraine: the scale of the shadow industry

The authors of the report named Ukraine as one of the largest hubs of telephone fraud in Eurasia. They suggest that one such office can earn between $1 million and $3 million a month, and the total number of centers in 2023 could range from one thousand to two thousand.

Researchers estimate that about 60,000 people may work in this sector. This is almost two-thirds of the total number of employees in the entire legal banking system of Ukraine.

After the beginning of the full-scale war, the market, as noted in the report, received an additional boost. Initially, some schemes were targeted at Russian citizens, but later the geography of the victims became significantly broader.

Which countries are targeted by calls from Ukrainian call centers

According to the study, fraudsters use psychological pressure, fake investment offers, and messages about supposedly blocked bank cards. Among the countries whose residents may become victims are the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Latvia, Germany, Canada, and the USA.

Call centers recruit workers through job postings for high-paying managerial positions. They are often located in regular office spaces and have a structure similar to a legitimate business: HR departments, IT specialists, security, and operators.

At the same time, the authors of the report emphasize: due to the secrecy of this environment and the lack of judicial decisions, proving the criminal nature of each office is difficult. Therefore, the figures provided are estimates, not exhaustive official statistics.

Why raids do not stop fraudulent networks

Zheleznyak stated that the fight should be directed not at individual offices but at the entire infrastructure: the organizers, the recruitment of workers, financial flows, and international channels. He also urged to strengthen cooperation between Ukraine and Europol, Interpol, banks, and telecommunications operators.

The international report notes that after a series of raids, the number of centers may have decreased, but new offices quickly replace those that were closed. Researchers point to the risk of corrupt protection for such networks and emphasize that showy raids do not solve the problem systematically.

Previously, Zheleznyak announced an offensive against corrupt officials due to EU demands and 90 billion euros.