Online Fortune Teller Swindles Ukrainian Woman Out of 500,000 Hryvnias; Police Launch Criminal Investigation

Fraud in Ukraine: A Case from Khmelnytskyi

According to Главком: A 44-year-old resident of Khmelnytskyi lost 500,000 hryvnias in a scam orchestrated by an online healer. The victim came across an advertisement for fortune-telling services on the internet, where the fraudster claimed to perform necessary rituals and even asserted that monks were praying for the woman in temples. Over the course of a month, the perpetrator extracted a substantial sum of money from the victim, who subsequently reported the crime to the police.

Law Enforcement Actions and Other Fraud Cases

Authorities have opened criminal proceedings under Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which addresses fraud. This offense carries a penalty of up to 12 years in prison, along with the confiscation of assets. As part of the investigation, law enforcement has already imposed a preventive measure of pretrial detention on the alleged scammer.

This incident is not an isolated one. In March 2026, similar fake fortune tellers tricked a military widow out of one million hryvnias, and in the Sumy region, a fortune teller swindled a woman for nearly two million hryvnias. These cases highlight a growing trend of fraudulent schemes involving fortune telling and pseudoscience. Police are urging citizens to exercise caution and not fall for such deceptive tactics.

The rise in fortune-telling-related fraud across Ukraine underscores the need to strengthen public awareness about the risks associated with these services. Amid economic instability, victims often turn to pseudoscientific practitioners hoping for help, which only exacerbates the problem. Law enforcement continues to combat fraud, calling on people to stay vigilant and critically evaluate such offers.

The alarming rise in fraudulent activities targeting vulnerable individuals is not limited to fortune-telling scams. Recently, a fake volunteer was tried in Chernivtsi for defrauding military families out of significant sums. Such incidents reflect a broader trend of exploitation during times of crisis, highlighting the critical need for public vigilance against various forms of deception.