Fraudsters who defrauded 11 military personnel will stand trial in Odessa
The Odesa Regional Prosecutor’s Office has filed an indictment against four members of an organized criminal group. According to the investigation, they sold nonexistent vehicles to the military under the guise of volunteer aid and defrauded 11 servicemembers. Another member of the group has been placed on the wanted list.
This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General.
According to the investigation, between January and August 2025, the scheme’s participants posted ads on social media—specifically in the Facebook group “Cars for the Armed Forces”—offering cars for sale at attractive prices. Each of them had a specific role: they posed as volunteers, customs brokers, and transporters.
To gain trust, they used photos and documents of real volunteers, simulating the legal import of cars from abroad. They used separate phones and SIM cards to communicate with each other, and funds were transferred to accounts belonging to front men.
The victims were mostly military personnel. They were told that the car was already on its way, after which they were asked to pay for “related expenses”—customs clearance, insurance, fuel, or delivery. Once the money was received, contact was severed.
As a result of these actions, 11 military personnel were victimized. The victims filed civil lawsuits seeking compensation for damages.
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