Fraudsters in Odesa scare pensioners with treason charges under the guise of SBU

An Odesa pensioner complained to police about fraudsters who almost gave her $7,500 she had saved for allegedly not bringing her to justice for treason.

According to the press service of the Main Department of the National Police in Odesa Oblast, the woman said that she had ordered biologically active supplements online, provided her personal data on the website, and paid for the goods.

Subsequently, she received a call from unknown persons who introduced themselves as SBU officers and, acting on the above scheme, accused her of sponsoring the occupying forces.

The frightened Odesa resident agreed to hand over the money for the declaration to the security forces, which was supposed to be collected by an alleged SBU officer, whose role was played by another woman recruited by the fraudsters under a similar scheme.

The scammers provided the agent with a fake certificate, such as a freelance certificate, and gave her an important task: to receive money from the potential traitor and transfer it to a certain bank account.

However, the 76-year-old woman suspected the fraud at the last minute and turned to the police. Criminal investigation operatives confirmed her suspicions.

Subsequently, law enforcement officers identified other residents of Odesa and the region who became victims of this fraudulent scheme. The victims lost from 5 thousand to 128 thousand dollars. All of them are elderly people.

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VIDEO: Police in Odesa region

Criminal proceedings have been initiated under Article 190 (Fraud) for each of the detected facts. Once the suspects are identified and found guilty, the fraudsters may face a fine of two thousand to three thousand tax-free minimum incomes, community service, or imprisonment for a term of five to twelve years with confiscation of property, depending on the gravity of the crime.

Кирило Бойко