Title: “Criminal Gang Busted in Ukraine: Posing as Bank Officials, Defrauding Victims in Czech Republic”

Nine Individuals Detained in Joint Ukrainian-Czech Law Enforcement Operation

In a collaborative effort between Ukrainian and Czech law enforcement agencies, nine individuals have been detained for posing as bank officials and defrauding victims over the phone in a large-scale financial fraud scheme. The operation’s call center was reportedly based in Odesa, Ukraine.

Criminal Activities

The members of this criminal gang allegedly posed as employees of the Czech National Bank. They convinced victims that their accounts had been compromised, persuading them to transfer funds to a ‘rescue account’ or install software on their computers that granted remote access to their online banking. In some cases, victims were asked to withdraw cash and hand it over to a courier under the guise of delivering it to a safe location.

Betwen 2022 and 2023, the fraudulent phone calls resulted in approximately 30 million Czech crowns ($1.2 million) in damages, according to the Czech police. The funds obtained from these illegal activities were then converted into cryptocurrency and used to buy luxurious cars and real estate. However, registration records for these assets were kept under the names of friends and family members.

Undetected for Over a Year and a Half

The criminals managed to stay undetected for over a year and a half, in part by using the real names and phone numbers of genuine bank employees, disguising their identity during the fraudulent calls. The Ukrainian police were able to identify the suspects with assistance from their Czech counterparts.

Raids and Detainments

Last week, over 100 officers from both countries conducted simultaneous raids on the criminals’ headquarters in Odesa and carried out 23 searches across Ukraine and the Czech Republic. The detainees included the 40-year-old organizer and a 50-year-old woman who served as the main recruiter of new members from the Czech Republic. She placed job advertisements, communicated with potential hires, provided training, and arranged for their travel to Ukraine.

Earnings and Seizures

Participants in the scheme could potentially earn up to 200,000 Czech crowns ($9,000) per month depending on their skills, authorities revealed. The police seized computer equipment, mobile phones, cars, weapons, drugs, and cash during the raids.

Consequences and Previous Collaborations

Ukrainian members of the gang may face up to 12 years in prison and confiscation of their property if found guilty. Other suspects are awaiting extradition to the Czech Republic, where they face up to 10 years in prison.

This is not the first time Ukrainian and Czech law enforcement have collaborated to dismantle cybercrime gangs. In November [20XX], they disbanded another criminal organization that defrauded victims through fraudulent phone calls using nearly identical tactics. The police have not yet identified any connection between the two cases.

Previous Scheme: Phishing Websites

In an earlier scheme revealed in January, cybercriminals stole banking information through phishing websites and made tens of thousands of dollars by calling victims in various European countries, including the Czech Republic, deceiving them into clicking on fraudulent links.

Reported by Daryna Antoniuk, Recorded Future News Reporter, Ukraine