Odesa: SBU exposes cryptocurrency theft scheme through call centers

A large-scale crypto-fraud scheme that brought the organizers tens of thousands of dollars every month was exposed in Odesa. Under the guise of "profitable investments," the scammers lured access to wallets and instantly withdrew all funds.

This was reported by the SBU Communication Department.

SBU cyber specialists together with the police liquidated a fraudulent call center that robbed both Ukrainians and foreigners. The operation was conducted under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General's Office.

The investigation established that a group of four people operated in Odesa, extorting money by disguising scams as cryptocurrency investments. The criminals received about $100,000 a month.

PHOTO: ssu.gov.ua

The scammers actively promoted fake"investment projects" through popular Telegram channels, luring people with promises of quick profits. For the sake of plausibility, they demonstrated fictional success stories and supported them with real data from well-known crypto exchanges.

After establishing contact, the victims were sent a link to a fake website stylized to look like well-known crypto services. Users were persuaded to connect their own wallets and confirm the transaction without explaining its true purpose.

In fact, the platform contained malicious code - a so-called "drainer" that automatically accessed assets and transferred them to the accounts of the criminals, completely emptying the wallets.

During 20 searches, law enforcement officers seized equipment, cell phones and cash that may be related to criminal activity.

PHOTO: ssu.gov.ua

The organizer and three participants have already been notified of suspicion of fraud on a large scale and money laundering. The issue of preventive measures is currently being decided. The defendants face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property, and the investigation is ongoing to identify all those involved.

Last year, a fraudster created a fake crypto business in Odesa and seized more than 42 million hryvnias from investors he knew. According to the investigation, he and his accomplice embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from the victims by promising high profits. In total, they received over USD 1.2 million, which they transferred to controlled bank accounts and crypto wallets.

Анна Бальчінос