The Security Service of Ukraine eliminated another scheme of money extortion from relatives of Ukrainian servicemen who are in captivity or missing at the frontline.
As a result of complex measures, the SBU Main Directorate of Internal Security detained in Kyiv region an offender who was ‘earning’ money from relatives of Mariupol defenders.
The suspect promised to help with the return of Ukrainian defenders home and demanded money to speed up the process.
The fact that the fraudster received almost UAH 1 million from the wife of an Azovstal defender who is in captivity of the Nazis was documented.
During the conversation with the woman, the suspect told her about alleged personal connections in the administration of the Russian prison where the Ukrainian soldier is being held.
At the same time, the fraudster manipulated the victim’s severe psycho-emotional state and threatened her with bad consequences for the prisoner in case of failure to receive money.
SBU officers detained the offender in her apartment when she received a new money transfer from the victim. The SBU seized the detainee’s mobile phone and bank cards with evidence of her crimes.
SBU investigators have now served her a notice of suspicion under Part 4 Art. 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (large-scale fraud).
The offender faces up to 8 years of imprisonment.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Please note that the issue of releasing prisoners of war is exclusively within the competence of state authorities.