Diana Marcu

20 August 2025

Law enforcement has identified more than 90 individuals who were scammed, losing around 26 million UAH. An indictment against the criminals has been sent to court, facing up to 12 years in prison with asset confiscation. The detection and cessation of the criminals' activities were carried out by the Cybercrime Prevention Unit in the Odessa region in collaboration with police investigators.
During the investigation, it was established that the main organizer is a 28-year-old resident of Berezivka. He involved his acquaintances - a 55-year-old man, a 23-year-old young man, and a 61-year-old woman - in the scheme.
To deceive citizens, the criminals created a fictitious company named 'VinEco', later changing it to 'Vinex Trade', claiming to engage in various investment activities with high profits.
The fraudsters convinced people to invest in their company, promising high returns and bonuses. They promoted their non-existent company through social media and personal meetings, even paying out small amounts to establish trust.
During the investigation, law enforcement identified 94 victims who collectively lost 25 million 742 thousand UAH. The funds were directed to the criminals' e-wallets and used for purchasing real estate and cars. In total, 61 million UAH was laundered.
Police conducted searches in the Odessa and Kyiv regions, seizing computers, documents, and cash. The court imposed a freeze on all seized assets.
The perpetrators were detained but did not utilize their bail rights. Investigators charged them under articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, including fraud and money laundering.
The maximum penalty for these crimes is up to 12 years imprisonment with asset confiscation.
The pre-trial investigation has been completed, and the indictment has been sent to court. The prosecution will be supporting the charges.
The police urge citizens to be cautious and avoid investing in dubious organizations. Check for licenses and registrations to prevent fraud.