In Kharkiv, a group of fraudsters posing as bank employees has been uncovered.

Law enforcement officials in Kharkiv have completed their investigation and submitted a case to the court regarding fraudsters who misappropriated funds from citizens through phone calls.

This was reported by the communications department of the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Kharkiv region, as conveyed by "Dumka".

According to the police, Kharkiv law enforcement officers uncovered an organized criminal group that posed as employees of bank security services. The criminals contacted citizens by phone, obtained confidential information about their accounts, and withdrew money. The total damage inflicted on the victims is estimated at 500,000 UAH.

The fraudsters' activities were halted in February of this year thanks to the efforts of the Cybercrime Prevention Department in the Kharkiv region and local investigators. Searches were conducted in their homes, during which mobile phones and bank cards used for the crimes were seized.

The defendants in the case have been charged under Articles 190 (fraud) and 361 (unauthorized interference with the operation of information systems) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. They now face court proceedings, and the maximum penalty for these crimes can reach up to 15 years in prison.