Ternopil Resident Loses Over $28,000 in Fake Investment Scam

• A resident of Ternopil lost more than $28,000 after “investing” through a fake platform.
• The fraudster introduced himself as an analyst and convinced the man to make several transfers.
• The connection with the pseudo broker broke down, and the website blocked access to the account.

On October 17, 2025, a 64-year-old resident of Ternopil filed a fraud complaint with the police. According to him, he came across an ad in one of the social networks, which advertised investment training and the possibility of making a profit.

The man met a person who identified himself as a broker-analyst. After registering on the online platform, the “investor” began transferring funds from his e-wallet.

Between July 27 and October 17, the victim made several transactions totaling $28,100. Subsequently, communication with the broker disappeared, and access to the account on the platform was blocked.

The case was qualified under Part 1 Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (fraud).

The police emphasized the importance of digital hygiene and caution when interacting with unknown platforms. Law enforcers urged users to carefully check companies through official sources, not to give third parties access to accounts and banking data, and to choose only verified services with the appropriate license for investments.

Note, according to the report of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, from July 2023 to July 2024 Ukrainians spent the equivalent of $882 million in hryvnia to buy bitcoins.