Fraudster impersonated the head of Odesa Regional State Administration to collect money

Cyberpolice exposed fraudsters who were collecting money under the guise of officials, allegedly to help the Armed Forces. One of the defendants posed as the head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration and convinced citizens to transfer funds to controlled accounts.

This was reported by the press service of the Cyberpolice of Ukraine.

The<span><span><span><span><span><span><span>operatives</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>of the Cyber Police Department together with investigators of the Dnipro Police Department of the Main Department of the National Police of Kyiv under the procedural supervision of the National Police of Ukraine. Kyiv, under the procedural guidance of the Dnipro District Prosecutor's Office, exposed a group of fraudsters posing as heads of state administrations and collecting funds allegedly to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The criminals created forged documents signed by the head of the region and fake telegram accounts to convince entrepreneurs and citizens to transfer money to bank accounts registered in the names of fictitious persons. To be more convincing, the fraudsters used fake email accounts and messages in messengers.

The cyber police identified and detained one of the group members from Kyiv. During the search, the SBU seized mobile phones, bank and SIM cards used in the criminal scheme. He was served a notice of suspicion under Part 4 of Art. 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (fraud), which provides for up to 8 years in prison. By court order, the man is under house arrest.

According to Oleh Kiper, the head of Odesa City Council, he warned about similar fraudsters who sent fake messages under his name calling for donations to the army. He emphasized that the fraudsters cynically used his authority and the patriotic feelings of Ukrainians.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing, and the police are identifying other participants in the scheme and the full amount of damage caused.

This is not the first time that fraudsters have extorted money on behalf of Kiper, allegedly to help the Armed Forces. Last October, unknown persons sent fake letters from the head of the Odesa Regional State Administration to entrepreneurs in Odesa region asking them to transfer funds. The official then emphasized that all such cases are carefully recorded, and the materials have already been handed over to law enforcement agencies for investigation.

Анна Бальчінос