Volunteers suspected of fraud for 30 thousand dollars: drones for the front did not arrive.

According to ТСН: The Solomiansky District Prosecutor's Office of Kyiv reported suspicion against a 35-year-old resident of the capital for large-scale fraud. According to the investigation, the man appropriated funds intended for the purchase of drones for the front.

The "trust" scheme and the fake persona

The investigation revealed that the suspect entered the circles of volunteers and benefactors. To conceal his identity, he used his brother's name and created the image of a reliable supplier of military equipment from abroad.

"In order for him to be trusted and recommended to acquaintances, the suspect actually purchased drones in European countries for several people. Subsequently, in September 2023, he received 30 thousand US dollars from a potential buyer — part in cash, part in cryptocurrency. For this money, he promised to buy abroad and deliver 6 Mavik 3t drones within 5-7 days. The promised drones were never seen by the buyer, and still have not," the prosecutor's office reported.

The man also informed the buyer about problems at the border, asked him to wait, sent photos, and later turned off his phone and began to hide. During searches of his residence, law enforcement discovered conspiracy masks and lists of other potential clients.

Criminal past and preventive measure

It turned out that the suspect already had legal problems. In 2017, he was sentenced to 5.5 years in prison for similar crimes: then he defrauded entrepreneurs for over 200 thousand dollars by promising to supply iPhones at reduced prices.

"The suspect in fraud has been placed under preventive detention with the possibility of posting bail in the amount of 1,097,058 hryvnias. He was taken into custody in the courtroom. The pretrial investigation is carried out by the investigators of the Solomiansky District Police in Kyiv, with operational support from the Kyiv Region National Police," the prosecutor's office summarized.

It should be reminded that earlier, law enforcement in the Kharkiv region uncovered another morgue worker who appropriated the personal belongings of dead Ukrainian soldiers in the Kupiansk direction. During a search, stolen phones of defenders were found with the nurse.

Furthermore, the wife of a fallen Ukrainian tankman Eduard Roshka, Yulia, accused morgue workers and funeral services in Malyn, Zhytomyr region, of appropriating the soldier's golden wedding ring.

The situation surrounding the fraud in the procurement of drones for the front raises deep concern, as the victim was not only the buyer but also those who needed drones for protection. This case underscores the importance of verifying information and trusting those engaged in charitable activities. Law enforcement continues the investigation, hoping that the victims of this fraud will get their money back, and the fraudster will be punished for his actions.