Law enforcement officers have exposed members of a criminal scheme who issued loans and then extorted money through threats. According to the investigation, at least 41 people were affected, and the amount of damages exceeds UAH 5.3 million, UNN reports with reference to the Office of the Prosecutor General.
Details
Seven members of an organized group were detained. They are suspected of an online lending scheme that effectively turned debts into a tool of pressure and extortion.
As the investigation established, since January 2024, the group has been operating through the "BitCapital" web service, which positioned itself as a fast loan platform. Money was issued in Tether (USDT) cryptocurrency, which allowed them to avoid control and operate outside the legal framework of Ukraine.
The terms were set by the organizers themselves: 7% of the loan amount was immediately charged, and another 0.6% for each day of use. In case of overdue payments, fines and penalties were accrued, due to which debts quickly grew and became unbearable. When borrowers could not or refused to pay, they were subjected to pressure - they were called, money was demanded, and threats were made.
Already in February 2025, the National Bank of Ukraine recognized the service's activities as illegal, as the non-resident company was not licensed and not registered in Ukraine.
The detainees were notified of suspicion under Part 4 of Art. 189 (Extortion) and Part 3 of Art. 355 (Coercion to fulfill or not fulfill civil law obligations) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The court chose preventive measures: six suspects are in custody with the right to post bail, another is under house arrest.
The sanction of the articles provides for 7 to 12 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.