In Ukraine, the number of financial fraud cases is on the rise, where criminals impersonate bank employees or use phishing links to steal funds from citizens’ accounts. In just one day in the Sumy region, three people fell victim to such scams, losing nearly 200,000 hryvnias in total.
This is reported by Finway
Common Fraud Scenarios
The first victim was a 34-year-old resident of Konotop. An unknown caller, who claimed to be a bank employee, informed the man about “suspicious activity” on his account. Under the pretext of protecting his savings, the fraudster convinced the cardholder to disclose confidential information and SMS codes. As a result, over 70,000 hryvnias were stolen from his accounts.
A similar situation occurred with a 53-year-old resident of the Sumy district. The man received a call from a fake bank employee who claimed that his card was supposedly blocked and offered to “verify” his information. Trusting the fraudster, the victim lost nearly 77,000 hryvnias.
The third incident was recorded in the Romny district. A woman selling a pool on an online platform received a message from a “buyer.” He sent a link under the guise of receiving a prepayment. After clicking the link and entering her card details, the woman lost 48,000 hryvnias.
Tips for Protecting Yourself from Fraudsters
Criminal proceedings have been opened in all cases under Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – “Fraud.” Law enforcement emphasizes the importance of caution:
- never disclose your bank details, PIN codes, or SMS passwords to strangers;
- avoid clicking on suspicious links, even if they appear official;
- if in doubt about security, contact your bank only through official communication channels;
- at the slightest suspicion of fraud, immediately contact the police.
“To avoid losses, never share your bank details with strangers and verify any messages only through official channels.”