Ukrainian law enforcement conducted a special operation against scammers who used the TikTok platform to deceive citizens. As a result, nearly 700,000 hryvnias were seized from the accounts of the perpetrators. It is known that the scammers lured users with the prospect of easy profits by inviting them to participate in quizzes that were supposedly held on the TikTok platform.
This is reported by Finway
How the Perpetrators Operated on TikTok
According to the investigation, the organizers of the fraudulent scheme misled people by promising rewards for participating in the quiz. After the arrest, the funds were transferred to the National Agency for the Detection and Management of Assets (ARMA). The agency explained that the seizure of the money occurred within the framework of a criminal proceeding opened for the fact of fraudulent acquisition of funds.
“The funds have been transferred to ARMA’s management based on a ruling from the Khmelnytskyi District Court of Khmelnytskyi Oblast, which will allow them to work for the economy and defense capability of the state”.
The total amount of funds transferred, which are placed in a deposit account at ARMA, is equivalent to 698,000 hryvnias. Among the seized assets are 4,000 US dollars and 532,000 hryvnias. The deposit portfolio of ARMA continues to grow thanks to effective cooperation with law enforcement agencies across the country.
Popular Fraud Schemes on Social Media
The scheme involving the so-called “lottery” is not the only one used on TikTok to extract money and personal data. Scammers may offer collaboration, during which users are promised easy earnings for simple actions, such as “liking videos”. However, such schemes are not only found in Ukraine, and other well-known brands and banks, including Amazon, YouTube, or popular financial institutions, may be used for deception.
Experts advise against clicking on suspicious links and not sharing their bank card details with unknown individuals. If a suspicious message is received, it is advisable to block the sender and report the incident to the support service of the respective messenger or social network.