Residents of Khmelnytsky region face up to 8 years in prison for organizing a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme

• Cryptocurrency scheme exposed in Khmelnitsky region: investors from Europe and the Middle East were affected
• Four residents of Khmelnitsky region created a fake cryptocurrency and advertised it in Telegram.
• They misled users by demonstrating successful trading and luxurious life.
• Investors lost access to assets, and the attackers withdrew funds through anonymous services.

In Khmelnitsky region exposed a group that organized a fraudulent scheme to attract investments in their own cryptocurrency. Cyberpolice together with investigators of the State Department of National Security and Investigations and cyber specialists of the USBU said that the attackers took possession of digital assets of citizens of Ukraine, European countries and the Middle East.

To promote the scheme, the suspects created themed communities in Telegram, where they demonstrated fake incomes and lifestyles to encourage users to invest.

After purchasing tokens, investors lost the ability to manage their assets. The fraudsters laundered the proceeds through specialized anonymous services and cashed them out.

Law enforcers conducted searches in Khmelnytskyi and Kyiv. During the investigative actions seized:

• computer equipment and cold wallets;
• rough notes confirming illegal activities;
• elite cars.

It is known about five victims from Ukraine. The organizer and three participants of the scheme were reported on suspicion under part 4 of article 190 and part 3 of article 362 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The maximum penalty — up to eight years of imprisonment.

We shall remind you that in July 2025, an international scheme of cryptocurrency-related fraud was exposed in Ukraine.