Fraudster Arrested in Odesa for Scamming Drivers
In just three days, a fraudster swindled five residents of Odesa, causing them over 20 thousand hryvnias in damages. The investigators have pressed charges against her, and she faces imprisonment.
At the end of March, five local residents reported to the police that certain amounts of money had disappeared from their bank accounts.
During the investigation, the police discovered that a 23-year-old woman from Odesa was involved.
She created a fake parking payment website and placed a QR code leading to it near one of the parking spots in the Peresyp district. The site looked official, but it required users to input sensitive information, which the fraudster captured.
By following the QR code, victims entered their confidential data, which she then used to access their bank accounts. The amounts stolen ranged from 4000 to 5100 hryvnias, totaling 22,700 hryvnias that she spent on personal needs.
Police seized her mobile phone, laptop, and bank card, which she used for her fraudulent activities.
"After gathering sufficient evidence, investigators charged her under Part 4 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine for theft through deception, specifically fraud committed using electronic computing technology. The indictment has been forwarded to court. The accused admitted her guilt and has already compensated the victims for their losses. According to current legislation, the maximum penalty she faces is eight years in prison," - reported Valentina Istomina, head of the investigative unit.
We remind residents and guests of Odesa: the cashless payment process for parking involves scanning the QR code displayed on the road sign and subsequent authorization through the Diia app or your banking app. Entering your bank card number, CVV code, login, or password is not required by the official website. Be cautious, keep your confidential information secret, and do not allow fraudsters to deceive you.
