Profited from the despair of a prisoner’s wife: fraudster swindled 422,000 and fled abroad
The defender returned during the official exchange — without any "assistance" from the fraudster
29-year-old resident of Donetsk region is suspected of having duped the wife of a Ukrainian prisoner of war out of 422,360 hryvnias, allegedly promising to help have her husband included on exchange lists. In fact, the man had no influence on the negotiation process, and after receiving the money he illegally left Ukraine and ceased communication with the victim.
The notification of suspicion was communicated to the man by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine. Procedural guidance in the case is being carried out by the Dnipro Specialized Defense Prosecutor’s Office of the Eastern region. The suspect’s actions were classified as fraud on a large scale.
According to the investigation, the perpetrator learned that the victim’s husband was being held in Russian captivity and convinced the woman that he allegedly had connections among influential people. He assured her that for money he could secure the inclusion of the serviceman on the exchange lists and ensure his return to Ukraine.
To make his story appear credible, the suspect asked the victim to send documents confirming her husband’s captivity. During phone calls and correspondence he repeatedly convinced the woman that the matter was supposedly being resolved, that the necessary documents would be signed soon, and that the serviceman would be included on the exchange lists.
Between November 2024 and January 2025 the woman transferred a total of 422,360 hryvnias to the bank accounts of the suspect and a person associated with him. According to the investigation, the man used the received funds at his own discretion.
Even after receiving the full amount, the suspect continued to assure the victim that he could influence her husband’s return. Later he said that another person would supposedly handle the matter, after which he illegally left the territory of Ukraine and stopped answering calls and messages.
The investigation established that the suspect had no real ability to influence either the formation of the exchange lists or the return of the prisoner of war home.
The woman learned of the deception only after the Coordination Headquarters for Prisoner of War Affairs officially announced her husband’s return as part of an exchange. The suspect had no involvement in the serviceman’s release.
Law enforcement is currently taking measures to determine and locate the man’s whereabouts. They are also checking whether other families of prisoners of war or missing persons could have been harmed by his actions.
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