💻 Online investment scams continue to multiply across Ukraine, with victims losing millions to fake financial platforms. One of the latest high-profile cases occurred in Ternopil, where a 64-year-old man lost more than one million hryvnias (about $28,100) after believing scammers who promised “quick investment training.”
According to the Ternopil Regional Police, the victim came across an advertisement for online investment courses on a popular social media platform. The promotional video looked professional: confident voices, graphs showing rising profits, photos of “successful clients,” and a logo almost identical to a well-known European brokerage platform. The man was persuaded that he could “try himself in investments under professional guidance” and earn stable profits.
After registering on the website, he was contacted by a “personal consultant” — polite, articulate, and convincing. The consultant suggested starting with a small amount and gradually increasing the investment. Over the next three months, the man transferred approximately 1.1 million hryvnias to the specified accounts.
On-screen, everything looked promising: the “investment platform” displayed growing profit percentages, while “analysts” assured him that he just needed to wait a little longer before withdrawing funds to “maximize returns.” But when the victim tried to withdraw even part of his money, the system blocked his account, and the “consultant” stopped responding to calls and messages.
Realizing he had been deceived, the man contacted the police. Criminal proceedings have been opened under Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — “Fraud.”
Investigators are working to identify those behind the scheme. Preliminary data shows the website was registered abroad, and the funds were funneled through a series of crypto wallets and foreign bank accounts. This complicates the investigation, but not all hope is lost — Ukraine and the EU are actively improving mechanisms for international cooperation in combating cybercrime.
Authorities once again remind citizens:
- Don’t trust promises of easy money. Any “investment” guaranteeing profit without risk is almost certainly a scam.
- Verify companies on the website of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission of Ukraine or in the NBU registry.
- Never transfer money or share documents with strangers, especially if they ask to “join a Zoom call to register an account” or “connect an investment manager.”
- Don’t believe in “training investments”: no legitimate broker requires transfers to personal accounts for educational purposes.
Police emphasize that recovering money from such schemes is extremely difficult, as the fraudsters often operate from abroad and use anonymous tools. The best protection is prevention — checking information and keeping emotions in check before sending any funds.
🕵️♂️ As the saying goes, the best investment for a beginner isn’t money — it’s knowledge.
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