The attackers had a database of farms in all regions of Ukraine that wanted to sell grain, buy fuel and lubricants, or purchase mineral fertilizers. The scammers pretended to be customers, but did not pay for or send goods that were provided for in the contracts.
To give their actions a true look, the scammers purchased several business entities with the necessary types of activities, signed a contract with a SIP telephony operator and rented a special office space. From there, they called potential victims and sent out SMS messages with an offer to sell them the goods they needed for harvesting or, conversely, to buy grain from them, with subsequent deferred payment.
Having received consent to buy grain or sell goods necessary for harvesting, the fraudsters entered into relevant transactions with the victims and received goods or funds from them, but they did not fulfill their obligations: fertilizers and fuel and lubricants were not shipped, and money for the received grain was not transferred.
In order to delay the appeal of deceived persons to law enforcement agencies, criminals for a long time promised them to fulfill their obligations under the transaction and persuaded the victims to wait. After that, the scammers stopped answering calls altogether. In return, the attackers sold grain to other entrepreneurs who did not know that they were buying stolen goods, and also cashed out the funds obtained fraudulently.
Operatives of the Criminal Investigation Department of the National Police identified five members of an organized criminal group. According to their places of residence and work, the police conducted 17 authorized searches in the territory, in particular in Kiev, Kiev and Vinnytsia regions. Law enforcement officers seized mobile phones, computer equipment, draft records and other material evidence of criminal activity.
Investigators of the National Police announced suspicion of fraud committed by an organized group on a large scale, through illegal operations using electronic computing equipment (Part 5 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) to all five participants of the criminal group, including the organizer. They face up to twelve years in prison for their crimes. Procedural guidance in proceedings is provided by the Office of the Prosecutor General.
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To give their actions a true look, the scammers purchased several business entities with the necessary types of activities, signed a contract with a SIP telephony operator and rented a special office space. From there, they called potential victims and sent out SMS messages with an offer to sell them the goods they needed for harvesting or, conversely, to buy grain from them, with subsequent deferred payment.
Having received consent to buy grain or sell goods necessary for harvesting, the fraudsters entered into relevant transactions with the victims and received goods or funds from them, but they did not fulfill their obligations: fertilizers and fuel and lubricants were not shipped, and money for the received grain was not transferred.
In order to delay the appeal of deceived persons to law enforcement agencies, criminals for a long time promised them to fulfill their obligations under the transaction and persuaded the victims to wait. After that, the scammers stopped answering calls altogether. In return, the attackers sold grain to other entrepreneurs who did not know that they were buying stolen goods, and also cashed out the funds obtained fraudulently.
Operatives of the Criminal Investigation Department of the National Police identified five members of an organized criminal group. According to their places of residence and work, the police conducted 17 authorized searches in the territory, in particular in Kiev, Kiev and Vinnytsia regions. Law enforcement officers seized mobile phones, computer equipment, draft records and other material evidence of criminal activity.
Investigators of the National Police announced suspicion of fraud committed by an organized group on a large scale, through illegal operations using electronic computing equipment (Part 5 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) to all five participants of the criminal group, including the organizer. They face up to twelve years in prison for their crimes. Procedural guidance in proceedings is provided by the Office of the Prosecutor General.
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