Scammers demand money from relatives of military prisoners: how criminals operate.

According to ТСН: In Ukraine, there have been increasing cases where scammers contact the relatives of military prisoners and missing defenders of the Armed Forces, trying to extort money from them.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that criminals take advantage of the emotional state of relatives, offering 'assistance' in releasing from captivity or finding the missing.

Fraudulent schemes

One of the most common schemes involves offers from individuals claiming to represent governmental bodies or 'intermediaries', to include a prisoner in the exchange list for a certain reward.

Another tactic is to claim that a soldier is allegedly seriously injured and requires urgent medical treatment, trying to force the family to transfer money to their account.

Protection against scammers

During such actions, criminals try to gain access to bank cards or personal information of the relatives of servicemen.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces emphasizes that no government structure demands money for the release of prisoners or the search for the missing.

'Do not provide personal information, card numbers, copies of documents or photos to strangers. Avoid communication with suspicious accounts on social networks and messengers. Verify any information through official channels,' military personnel urge.

Moreover, there have been reports of a new wave of phishing, where scammers offer money for a 5-minute survey, supposedly from a bank. Victims are asked to enter their PIN code, after which all funds are stolen from their bank card.

In these circumstances, it is important to be particularly cautious and not succumb to emotional manipulation. Official structures always recommend verifying information and contacting only reliable sources. Protect your money and personal data — this is the best defense in such situations.