Ukrainian, French enforcers conducting joint operation to neutralize intl group of cybercriminals
Searches were carried out in Kharkiv at the premises of a member of a transnational group that stole almost EUR 800,000 from the accounts of foreigners, the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) has said.
"Law enforcement agencies of Ukraine and the French Republic conducted a joint international special operation to document a transnational group that specialized in stealing confidential data of foreigners and seizing their funds. The owner of one of the crypto wallets is a citizen of Ukraine, a resident of Kharkiv," the PGO said in a statement on the official website on Friday.
According to the investigation, members of the group, using special software code, collected data on payment cards of EU citizens from over 300 popular online trading platforms. Subsequently, they stole money from the accounts of foreign citizens. Losses from illegal activities amount to almost EUR 800,000, which is the equivalent of over UAH 30 million.
"Now, under the PGO procedural guidance, the location of the 45-year-old owner of a crypto-wallet has been established, which, according to law enforcement officers of the French Republic, was used to legalize income received by members of the group. In response to an international request, Ukrainian law enforcement officers conducted searches at Kharkiv resident. They seized computer equipment and mobile devices, on which entrances to crypto-asset storage systems were previously discovered," the PGO said.
Investigative actions are carried out by investigators of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Kharkiv region with operational support from the cyber police of Kharkiv region. The issue of providing seized evidence to French colleagues is being resolved.