Ukrainian and Czech law enforcement agencies have charged 10 employees of a Kyiv-based call centre with fraud and the laundering of illegally obtained proceeds. According to the Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office, nine Czech citizens lost over 8.4 million hryvnias after being offered the chance to invest in cryptocurrency. Prosecutors are seeking to have the suspects remanded in custody.
Briefly about the main points
- Ten employees of a Kyiv-based call centre are under suspicion.
- Nine Czech citizens were recognised as victims.
- According to the investigation, the losses amount to more than 8.4 million hryvnias.
- Investors were shown figures suggesting a rise in profits.
- The Public Prosecutor’s Office is appealing against the precautionary measures ordered by the court.
How the fake crypto-investment scheme worked
According to the investigation, the scheme operated between 2022 and 2025. Its participants persuaded Czech citizens to invest in cryptocurrency, whilst creating the illusion of successful trading and rising profits in their personal accounts.
In fact, the victims were not receiving any wages, and after money transfer were losing the chance to get their money back. The complaints lodged by the defrauded investors with the Czech law enforcement authorities formed the basis for a joint international investigation, during which the alleged participants in the scheme were identified.
Qualifications and precautions
The investigation believes that some of the individuals involved communicated directly with the «investors» and persuaded them to transfer funds. Others are suspected of transferring currency from accounts and subsequently laundering the money. The suspects’ actions have been classified under parts three and four Article 190 and Article 209(2) The Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Prosecutors have filed a motion requesting that the suspects be subject to pre-trial measures in the form of detention. The court set bail at between 266,000 and 1 million hryvnias for four of them, round-the-clock house arrest for three, and night-time house arrest for a further two. The Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office is appealing against these pre-trial measures.
Pursuant to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court verdict.
