The Coordination Headquarters has warned the families of prisoners of war about an increase in fraudulent activity ahead of prisoner exchanges
The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War has reported an increase in cases of fraud ahead of the announced Easter prisoner exchange.
According to the agency, criminals are attempting to extort money from the relatives of prisoners by exploiting the prospect of the soldiers’ possible release. The headquarters urges people to be cautious and not to trust strangers.
Bogdan Okhrimenko, head of the Coordination Headquarters’ secretariat, noted this in a video address.
“News about possible exchanges is appearing more and more frequently in the media. Unfortunately, against this backdrop, we are seeing a sharp increase in fraud activity,” he said.
According to Okhrimenko, scammers are calling the relatives of prisoners of war or those missing in action. They pose as officials or even employees of institutions within Russia and, in exchange for money, promise to “facilitate” the inclusion of a loved one on the exchange lists.
The head of the Coordination Headquarters’ secretariat emphasized that all matters related to the search and release of prisoners are handled exclusively by authorized state bodies. No “intermediaries” have or can have any influence on the negotiation process. Any offers of “help for money” are 100% fraud.
If you receive such offers from scammers, Okhrimenko advises reporting them to the Coordination Headquarters and law enforcement agencies.
The Coordination Headquarters has repatriated 8,669 Ukrainians from captivity.
Additionally, the Russians have shelled the Dnipropetrovsk region over 70 times.
Paratroopers liberated a settlement in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
