The National Police of Ukraine detained a group of fraudsters in the Dnipro region — they disguised themselves as employees of mobile operators to reissue SIM cards to access other people’s bank accounts.
The National Police of Ukraine detained a group of fraudsters in the Dnipro region — they disguised themselves as employees of mobile operators to reissue SIM cards to access other people’s bank accounts.
The National Police noted that among the victims were residents of various regions of Ukraine, including Kyiv, Poltava, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, and Volyn.
After reissuing SIM cards, they gained control over the financial number and accessed users' mobile banking. The fraudsters then changed the credentials and transferred money to their accounts to withdraw cash through ATMs and payment terminals. Law enforcement officials estimate the amount of damage at about UAH 1 million.
«In some cases, the perpetrators not only took possession of the funds, but also tried to carry out additional illegal transactions with the victims' accounts,» the National Police noted.
During the investigation, law enforcement officers found out that the fraudsters acted according to a previously developed plan and had a clear hierarchical structure. The organizer coordinated the actions of the participants, defined roles, provided them with gadgets and distributed the loot. Other criminals were responsible for finding phone numbers of potential victims and communicating with them, as well as for reissuing SIM cards and stealing funds.
Police officers conducted a series of searches at the fraudsters' residences in the Dnipropetrovsk region, as well as in their vehicles. They seized mobile phones, SIM cards, bank cards, data drives, SIM card packaging, and other physical evidence.
Three criminals were reported on suspicion of fraud committed on a particularly large scale by an organized group. They face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.
Last year, the Verkhovna Rada registered a bill on protection against fraud related to the appropriation of financial numbers. It provides for the creation of a database of restored numbers and other measures, but the NKEC and the NBU were skeptical about the proposal.
