{"id":33233,"date":"2026-10-14T18:46:31","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T15:46:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/?p=33233"},"modified":"2026-10-14T18:46:31","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T15:46:31","slug":"shakhraiskyi-kol-tsentr-stryi-pidozry-15-rokiv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/suspilstvo\/shakhraiskyi-kol-tsentr-stryi-pidozry-15-rokiv\/","title":{"rendered":"In Ukraine, charges relating to \u00aboffices\u00bb have been brought for the first time: up to 15 years\u2019 imprisonment"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In the Lviv region, the SBU and the Cyber Police have uncovered a fraudulent call centre, whose operators posed as women on dating websites, gained access to men\u2019s smartphones and stole money from their bank accounts. The criminal scheme was organised from flats in the town of Stryi. According to preliminary data, at least 50 Ukrainians and 30 foreign nationals were victimised. Law enforcement officers have arrested three men, who face up to 15 years\u2019 imprisonment. As reported on 14 October 2026 by the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police, this is the first case in which a new article of the Criminal Code has been applied, which specifically provides for liability for the organisation and operation of fraudulent call centres.<\/p>\n<div class=\"news-summary-box\"><strong>Briefly about the main points<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A fraudulent call centre, set up in flats, has been uncovered in Stryi, in the Lviv region.<\/li>\n<li>According to the investigation, the scheme was organised by two 23-year-old men and their 21-year-old accomplice.<\/li>\n<li>The fraudsters posed as women on dating websites and used voice-changing software.<\/li>\n<li>It has been provisionally established that there are at least 80 victims: 50 Ukrainians and 30 foreign nationals.<\/li>\n<li>During the nine searches, equipment, mobile phones and cash were seized.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>In Stryi, fraudsters have set up a call centre in flats<\/h2>\n<p>According to the investigation, the illegal activity was organised by two 23-year-old residents of Stryi. They enlisted the help of a 21-year-old acquaintance and other accomplices.<\/p>\n<p>For. <a href=\"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/suspilstvo\/shakhraiski-kol-tsentry-ukraini\/\">call centre<\/a> They rented two flats, which they equipped with computers, telephones and communication equipment. The group\u2019s work was coordinated via a private chat on Telegram.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike large-scale fraudulent \u00aboffices\u00bb, the suspects operated in small groups, taking care not to attract the attention of the police.<\/p>\n<p>As investigators established, the main purpose of the call centre\u2019s activities was to gain access to the bank accounts of people whom the group\u2019s members had met online.<\/p>\n<h2>They pretended to be women and sent explicit photos<\/h2>\n<p>To find their victims, the fraudsters created fake female profiles on dating websites and messaging apps. They would chat with men, gradually gaining their trust, and even used special programmes that altered a man\u2019s voice to sound like a woman\u2019s. As the conversation became more intimate, the fraudsters would send their contacts files disguised as personal photographs. In reality, these files contained malware capable of providing covert remote access to the victims\u2019 devices.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Cyber Police, once the infected files were opened, the cybercriminals were able to collect confidential information and steal money from the victims\u2019 bank accounts.<\/p>\n<p>In some cases, men were also persuaded to enable screen sharing on their smartphones, which allowed the fraudsters to obtain further information needed to access their banking apps.<\/p>\n<h2>At least 80 people were injured<\/h2>\n<p>According to preliminary findings of the investigation, at least 50 Ukrainian citizens and 30 foreign nationals fell victim to the fraudulent call centre\u2019s activities. Among those affected were residents of European countries, notably Poland and Germany, as well as Georgia.<\/p>\n<p>According to information from the public prosecutor\u2019s office, the members of the group distributed the stolen money according to a pre-determined scheme.<\/p>\n<p>The direct perpetrators received 15% in illicit proceeds as payment. The remaining 85% went to the organisers. Part of the money was converted into cryptocurrency and subsequently exchanged for cash via an illegal currency exchange bureau.<\/p>\n<p>Law enforcement agencies are still working to establish the final amount of the losses and the number of victims.<\/p>\n<h2>During the searches, over 2 million hryvnias and equipment were seized<\/h2>\n<p>Officers from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the police arrested the three main suspects on the premises of the call centre. Law enforcement officers carried out nine searches at addresses linked to the suspects, as well as at the cryptocurrency exchange whose services they had used.<\/p>\n<p>During the investigation, the following items were seized:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>computer equipment, dozens of smartphones and SIM cards;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>bank cards, a crypto wallet and rough notes;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>over 1.2 million hryvnias in cash;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>foreign currency amounting to more than 800,000 hryvnias in equivalent value.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The total amount of cash seized exceeds two million hryvnias. Investigators are establishing its origin and any links to fraudulent activities.<\/p>\n<h2>New law applied for the first time: organisers face up to 15 years in prison<\/h2>\n<p>A distinctive feature of this case was the application of Article 255-4 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which came into force in September 2026. It provides for criminal liability for establishing, leading or participating in the activities of an organised group engaged in electronic communications fraud.<\/p>\n<p>The three detainees were informed that they were suspected of offences under the following provisions of the Criminal Code:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Parts 1 and 2 of Article 255-4 \u2014 the formation of, leadership of, or participation in a fraudulent organised group;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Article 190(5) \u2014 fraud;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Article 361(5) \u2014 unauthorised interference with the operation of information systems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Based on the totality of the alleged offences, the suspects face up to 15 years\u2019 imprisonment.<\/p>\n<p>Law enforcement agencies are considering what preventive measures to impose. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing, and the court will determine whether the suspects are ultimately guilty.<\/p>\n<h2>The SBU has announced the dismantling of 60 fraudulent call centres<\/h2>\n<p>According to the Security Service of Ukraine, between July and September 2026, law enforcement agencies shut down 60 fraudulent call centres. During more than 250 searches, thousands of items of computer equipment, mobile phones, cars and substantial sums of cash were seized.<\/p>\n<p>The SBU notes that, following large-scale expos\u00e9s, those involved in fraudulent schemes are increasingly turning their backs on large office premises. Instead, they are forming small groups that operate from flats or other inconspicuous premises.<\/p>\n<p>The call centre in Stryi that was exposed marked the first instance in which the organisers of such activities were notified of suspicions under a new section of the Criminal Code.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u041d\u0430 \u041b\u044c\u0432\u0456\u0432\u0449\u0438\u043d\u0456 \u0421\u0411\u0423 \u0442\u0430 \u041a\u0456\u0431\u0435\u0440\u043f\u043e\u043b\u0456\u0446\u0456\u044f \u0432\u0438\u043a\u0440\u0438\u043b\u0438 \u0448\u0430\u0445\u0440\u0430\u0439\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u043a\u043e\u043b-\u0446\u0435\u043d\u0442\u0440, \u0443\u0447\u0430\u0441\u043d\u0438\u043a\u0438 \u044f\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0432\u0438\u0434\u0430\u0432\u0430\u043b\u0438 \u0441\u0435\u0431\u0435 \u0437\u0430 \u0436\u0456\u043d\u043e\u043a \u043d\u0430 \u0441\u0430\u0439\u0442\u0430\u0445 \u0437\u043d\u0430\u0439\u043e\u043c\u0441\u0442\u0432, 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