Fake investments in metallurgy: a fraudulent scheme worth 600 thousand euros was exposed in Kryvyi Rih

Law enforcement officers uncovered a fraudulent scheme in Kryvyi Rih, in which the perpetrators took possession of 600 thousand euros by offering the investor to invest in supposedly profitable projects of a metallurgical enterprise.

This was reported by the National Police of Ukraine.

It is known that the participants in the scheme assured the victim that they had connections with the management of one of the metallurgical enterprises, as well as with representatives of the criminal environment. Under this pretext, they offered to invest in commercial projects, in particular, in the supply of coal and the purchase of reinforcement at prices significantly lower than market prices.

The police have established that the organizer of the transaction has family ties to crime and is currently in custody on suspicion of another fraud related to the embezzlement of 7 million UAH from a foreign company. He involved a local businessman in the scheme, who presented himself as the head of a non-resident company, allegedly registered in Bulgaria, and was looking for potential investors.

To convince the victim of the legality of the deal, the organizer corresponded with him on messenger, posing as an assistant to the deputy general director of the metallurgical enterprise. He used the name of an official who actually had nothing to do with concluding any contracts.

Believing in the authenticity of the proposed projects, the investor first gave the attackers 150 thousand euros to organize coal supplies, and later another 450 thousand euros — allegedly for the purchase of reinforcement at a 40% discount from the market value.

In addition, on July 16, law enforcement officers, with the forceful support of the KORD special forces and the special police regiment, conducted 36 authorized searches of the residences of the suspects and their cars.

During the investigation, mobile phones, laptops, bank cards, digital media, documentation, cash, a car, draft notes, as well as ammunition and plants resembling cannabis were seized.

In particular, two participants in the scheme were informed of suspicion under Part 4 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (fraud). They face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

Also follow “Pryamim” on Facebook , X , Telegram , and Instagram.