Fraudsters arrested in Stryi for stealing money from accounts via fake online acquaintances

First in Ukraine: Charges for organising a fraud call centre

Law enforcement officers in Lviv Oblast detained three young men and officially notified them of suspicion of committing a crime under the article concerning the establishment of a fraud call centre. This is the first case in the history of Ukrainian judicial practice where such a qualification has been applied in a specific case.

According to the investigation, the criminals operated in the city of Stryi. Their scheme involved creating an online space to deceive victims, where fake female accounts on dating services played a key role.

The deception scheme: From romantic correspondence to phone access

According to investigation data, the process of luring victims began with establishing emotional contact. The criminals created convincing female personas, using attractive photographs and, crucially, special software that allowed them to transform a male voice into a female one. This added realism to the fake profiles during voice calls.

The scammers targeted Ukrainian citizens, including those abroad, particularly in the Czech Republic and Poland. Once the interlocutors began to trust the "new acquaintance", the criminals sent them photo files containing hidden malicious software. Law enforcement officers stated that this involved a RAT tool (Remote Access Trojan), designed for remote control of a device.

Access to bank accounts and money laundering

Having gained control over victims' gadgets through the installed spyware, the criminals accessed confidential information. This allowed them to bypass two-factor authentication systems when logging into online banking. As a result, funds were withdrawn from the victims' bank accounts.

According to the investigation, the stolen funds were converted into cryptocurrency for further laundering.

Law enforcement efforts and potential penalties

The case was investigated by cyber police, detectives from the regional police department, and officers from the regional SBU office. Procedural supervision was carried out by the Lviv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

The detained young men face a penalty of up to 15 years of imprisonment. At the time the information was released, law enforcement officers were deciding on the preventive measure of detention on remand.

Context: The fight against the network of "offices"

Whether this case will mark the beginning of the end for fraud "offices" remains an open question. Currently, it is known that a specific group has been exposed and its members charged, while conclusions about the cessation of other call centres would be premature.

Previously, the publication StopCor reported on the exposure of a suspected fraud call centre on Mykhailivska Street in Kyiv. According to journalists, approximately 40 people were involved, and the "office" targeted residents of European countries. StopCor journalists, together with the police, also exposed a call centre in the "Spasky" business centre in the Podil district of the capital. According to the publication, the premises were equipped with approximately 55 workstations.