Наталя Хандусенко Hot News 23 February 2026, 14:23

Cryptocurrency fraudsters from Ukraine robbed Europeans of at least $1.2 million

A criminal organization that was defrauding EU citizens under the guise of crypto investments was dismantled in Dnipro.

As a result of joint measures by the SBU, together with colleagues from Latvia and Lithuania, the leader of a criminal organization and 10 of his accomplices, who organized four call centers in Dnipro, were detained.

Operators called EU citizens and offered them to invest money in "promising" crypto projects.

To be convincing, the fraudsters demonstrated to clients rapid profit growth on an online platform that simulated the operation of a cryptocurrency exchange.

"At the initial stage, the dealers offered clients a symbolic first deposit, after which investors were "encouraged" with instant dividends. In this way, the victim of the scam was "hooked" and transferred increasingly large amounts to the crypto wallet of the call center operators. As soon as the investment amount reached the highest limit, the perpetrators immediately cut off contact with the client and blocked his contacts," the SBU report says .

In a year, the scammers "earned" at least $1.2 million through this scheme.

Law enforcement officers conducted 40 searches in the offices and homes of the detainees, during which mobile phones and computer equipment with evidence of the "scheme" were seized, as well as 21 million in the hryvnia equivalent, likely obtained through criminal means.