The National Police extradited to Ukraine a man who, together with his accomplices, created a network of fictitious online stores and defrauded volunteers and military personnel of over 20 million hryvnias. The perpetrators sold non-existent cars, drones, and thermal imagers, posing as volunteers, UNN writes with reference to the National Police and the Office of the Prosecutor General.
The National Police extradited from Armenia the organizer of a large-scale fraudulent scheme through which volunteers and military personnel lost over 20 million hryvnias. The organizer created a criminal group of three people, with whom he carried out activities through fictitious online stores and social media pages.
After being exposed, the organizer was hiding abroad. He was put on an international wanted list and detained in Armenia. On October 28, he was handed over to the Ukrainian side at the Krakovets checkpoint, the Prosecutor General's Office reported.
According to law enforcement officers, they placed advertisements for the sale of cars, tires, drones, and thermal imagers allegedly for the military.
To gain trust, the defendants positioned themselves as volunteers, published photos from the front line, reports on "aid to the army," and used patriotic symbols. Prices for goods were lower than market prices - SUVs were offered 30-40% cheaper, explaining this by alleged "volunteer discounts" or "direct delivery from the EU."
As the Prosecutor General's Office added, after receiving an advance payment, which sometimes reached hundreds of thousands of hryvnias, communication with buyers ceased.
The organizer and his three accomplices have been notified of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 27, Part 4 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Indictments against three members of the group have already been sent to court by prosecutors. They face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.