Kyiv law enforcement officers have apprehended a 20-year-old man who, posing as a “cryptocurrency consultant,” defrauded an Odesa student of 700,000 UAH. According to the National Police of Ukraine, a significant portion of the stolen funds were government compensation payments to the family of a deceased serviceman.
According to the investigation, the suspect met the victim via a Telegram dating bot in early March 2025. By employing sophisticated social engineering techniques, he gained the victim’s trust and manipulated her into providing login credentials for her banking applications. Once he secured access to her accounts, the perpetrator executed a series of unauthorized transactions over several days, withdrawing cash and converting funds into virtual assets.
Cyber police successfully tracked the digital footprint, including correspondence, voice recordings, IP addresses, and the movement of funds into cryptocurrency wallets. Searches conducted at the suspect’s residence yielded digital evidence linking him to the crime. Authorities noted that this was not the suspect’s first offense, as he had two prior criminal records for similar fraudulent activities. A court has since remanded the suspect in custody for 60 days with the option of bail.
This incident serves as a grim reminder of how criminals exploit vulnerable individuals during wartime. While the state continues to focus on national security and the ongoing defense efforts, financial security remains a critical domestic challenge. As Ukraine continues its systematic work to weaken the aggressor’s logistics, protecting citizens from internal financial predators is a key priority for the police.
Authorities strongly urge citizens never to share banking details, passwords, or SMS codes with anyone, regardless of their claims of being financial experts or investment specialists. Verified financial services and official bank channels remain the only safe way to manage funds. The investigation into the perpetrator’s potential involvement in other scams is ongoing, and law enforcement is committed to holding him fully accountable under the law.