Law enforcement officers in Kyiv have detained a 30-year-old resident of Uzhhorod suspected of defrauding a well-known Ukrainian scientist and pulmonologist of over 11 million UAH. According to an official statement by the Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office, the scammers exploited the 83-year-old doctor of medical sciences, professor, and State Prize laureate, convincing him to hand over his life savings under the guise of an “SBU security check.”
The fraudulent scheme was highly manipulative and tailored to wartime anxieties. The victim received a call via a messaging app from an individual posing as an officer of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). The imposter shocked the elderly academic with allegations that he was accused of funding the aggressor state by purchasing Russian goods online. To “avoid criminal liability” and prove the legal origin of his funds, the professor was pressured into an urgent “declaration” process, which required transferring his cash to a courier for verification.
Overwhelmed by psychological pressure, the scientist complied. During a video call, the scammers instructed him to sort his savings into separate packages by currency. Ultimately, near his home, the victim handed over $180,000, €30,000, and 1.6 million UAH to a courier, totaling over 11 million UAH.
The courier, identified as a youth sports coach from Uzhhorod who traveled to the capital for quick earnings, was arrested shortly after. He was allegedly promised a $500 fee for his role and immediately converted the stolen cash into cryptocurrency for the scheme’s masterminds. Upon his arrest, police seized mobile phones, credit cards, and cash. Furthermore, a forensic search of his phone revealed his potential involvement in at least five other similar scams.
The suspect has been charged with grand fraud under Part 5 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which carries a sentence of up to 12 years in prison with asset confiscation. The court has set bail at 3.3 million UAH. This high-profile incident highlights a rising trend of sophisticated social engineering targeting prominent Ukrainians. Authorities strongly advise the public that official law enforcement agencies never demand cash transfers for “verification” or “safekeeping.”