The activity of Russian intelligence services has intensified in the capital, seeking new agents among pensioners by using new fraudulent schemes.
This is reported by Kyiv24
How the New Fraud Scheme Works
Recently, the number of cases in Kyiv and several other cities has increased where elderly people receive calls from unknown individuals claiming to be employees of Ukrainian law enforcement agencies. Most often, they use the Viber messenger for this purpose. The fraudsters give illegal instructions, disguising themselves under the pretense of “state interests.”
“In Kyiv and other cities, there has been an increase in cases where criminals call elderly individuals (mostly using the Viber app), posing as employees of Ukrainian law enforcement agencies and giving illegal instructions under the guise of ‘state interests,'” the police report states.
One common method is sending fake summons via messengers, demanding that individuals appear for questioning by the police or the Security Service of Ukraine due to an alleged criminal case being opened. These messages create an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty among the victims.
Manipulations Through Drug Sales and Blackmail
Another popular scheme involves deception through advertisements for medications or dietary supplements. Pensioners who purchase such products become targets for fraudsters. They are informed that the purchased drugs are supposedly produced in Russia and banned in Ukraine, thus implying that the buyer may be collaborating with the enemy. The scammers then “offer assistance” in resolving the issue but demand a significant sum of money to be transferred to an unknown bank card or to be handed over in cash to a so-called “agent” in person. The criminals promise to return the money after “verification” or “declaration.”
After the victim hands over their savings, the fraudsters continue psychological pressure and blackmail, convincing the person that they can only recover their funds by completing certain tasks: surveilling other individuals, organizing sabotage, and other illegal activities within Ukraine.
Law enforcement officials emphasize that all actions on behalf of law enforcement agencies must occur strictly in accordance with current legislation, and citizens cannot be assigned suspicious tasks.