More than UAH 3 million stolen from the bank cards of visitors to Lviv nightclubs

Almost UAH 3.15 million in total losses have been reported in a case involving a series of thefts and large-scale fraud at nightclubs in Lviv. The victims were three men who visited different venues in the city. According to investigators, money was fraudulently withdrawn from their bank cards. The crimes may have taken place at strip clubs.

The case files list the following losses:

• more than UAH 400,000 was stolen from a 36-year-old man;
• a 37-year-old visitor lost more than UAH 2.3 million;
• UAH 367,000 was withdrawn from the account of a 40-year-old man.

Yesterday, investigators and police officers conducted 17 authorized searches. They took place:

• at three nightclubs in Lviv;
• in four cars;
• at the homes of people connected to the venues where the crimes were allegedly committed.

The operation involved:

• officers from the Lviv District Police Department No. 1;
• officers from the Criminal Investigation Department of the Lviv Region Police;
• special police units.

During the searches, police seized computers and other digital equipment, documents, handwritten notes, and other materials. These may indicate the suspects’ involvement in unlawful activity.

Criminal proceedings have been opened under Part 4 of Article 185 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — theft, and Parts 3 and 5 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — fraud. The maximum penalty under these articles is up to 12 years in prison, with confiscation of property.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. Police are identifying everyone involved in the crimes.

We previously reported:

• Money stolen by scammers? Parliament wants banks to stop washing their hands of it and refund the funds
• Clicking a link in a social media post about a benefit cost a woman from Mykolaiv nearly UAH 94,000
• A link to aid from a partner country led to a series of withdrawals totaling UAH 82,000 for a Mykolaiv resident
• A 22-year-old fraudster from Mykolaiv used stolen foreigners’ cards to pay for purchases — now she could face a lengthy prison sentence
• Mobile scammers: half a million hryvnias of someone else’s money “transferred” in Kryvyi Rih