Cyber specialists of the Security Service of Ukraine along with the National Police Officers have blocked the fraudsters in the Kharkiv, who under the guise of trading on international stock exchanges, were misappropriating citizens’ money.
Around tens of thousands of dollars of family savings were swindled from the people every month.
In order to search for potential “investors“, the attackers created their own call center in the regional center, which had 40 operators. They called citizens and offered to invest money in shares of well-known companies on the stock market.
Dealers created electronic “personal offices” for their clients, in which they demonstrated the constant “growth” of shares and offered to increase investments.
To convince people to invest in “fund projects”, call center operators used various methods of psychological influence and tried to manipulate “investors”.
According to the investigation, three residents of Kharkiv, who decided to “make money” from the criminal scheme, are involved in the organization of illegal activities.
During searches of residential and office premises, bank cards, computer equipment, mobile phones and draft records with evidence of illegal activity were found.
On the basis of the materials collected by the Security Service, the three persons involved were notified of suspicion under Part 3 of Art. 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (fraud).
An investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the crime. Perpetrators face up to 8 years in prison.
Complex measures were carried out by SBU employees in the Kharkiv region together with the National Police under the procedural guidance of the regional prosecutor’s office.