--- title: "SBU Scheme Against Former Deputy: How an Odessa Schoolboy Tried to Smuggle $31,800 via Crypto" description: "🚨 Fraudsters caught in Kyiv who deceived a former Verkhovna Rada deputy of the 1st convocation. Posing as the SBU, they swindled $31,800 from a 71-year-old man. The scheme involved a 20-year-old from Odesa and a 17-year-old courier-athlete. The money was supposed to be sent to crypto, but it was returned. 🔥" date: 2026-08-14T14:50:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/sbu-scheme-against-former-deputy-odessa-schoolboy-crypto-smuggling tags: [ukraine, fraud, scam, politics, money-laundering] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # SBU Scheme Against Former Deputy: How an Odessa Schoolboy Tried to Smuggle $31,800 via Crypto ![Cash dollars handed over in an envelope — crypto-based money laundering scheme exposed by SBU in case of ex-deputy and Odessa schoolboy](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/14/shkola-moshennikov-ekz-deputat-31800-dollarov/shkola-moshennikov-ekz-deputat-31800-dollarov-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - The victim of the scammers was a 71-year-old former Verkhovna Rada deputy of the 1st convocation, who lost $31,800. - The crime involved a 20-year-old organizer from Odesa and a 17-year-old courier. - The money was planned to be withdrawn via cryptocurrency, but it was returned to the owner. - The suspects face up to 12 years of imprisonment. A new fraud scheme has been exposed in Kyiv, with the victim being a 71-year-old man, a former People's Deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of the first convocation. According to the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office, criminals, posing as employees of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), swindled a large sum—$31,800—from the pensioner. Two young men were involved in the operation to seize the money: a 20-year-old resident of Odesa who organized the crime, and a 17-year-old courier who was supposed to pick up the cash. ### Deception Method: From "Fund Verification" to Crypto Exchange The investigation established that the scammers used a classic scenario adapted for elderly people. Under the pretext of conducting a "fund verification" or exposing fictitious accounts, the fraudsters convinced the former deputy to hand over his savings. A 17-year-old teenager acted as the courier who was supposed to collect the money. He was recruited into the scheme by the 20-year-old Odesa resident. According to law enforcement, the link between the participants was established through mutual acquaintances in sports circles, as both young men are involved in sports. The courier's briefing was conducted remotely via the Telegram messenger. The teenager was given a photo of the victim so he could identify her during the meeting. The plan of action was detailed: the courier was to pick up the cash, keep $600 as a reward, and transport the main sum—more than $31,000—out of the country through currency exchange points, transferring the funds to a crypto wallet. ### Arrest and Return of Funds Operatives managed to prevent the transfer of funds outside the country. The criminals were detained before they could make the cryptocurrency transfer. The sum of $31,800 was returned to the legal owner. Both participants—the organizer and the executor—have been notified of suspicion of aiding and abetting fraud. According to the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the commission of this crime is punishable by imprisonment for a term of 5 to 12 years with confiscation of property. ### Context of the Fight Against Cyber Fraud This case is part of the large-scale work of law enforcement agencies to combat fraudulent networks. Previously, RBC-Ukraine reported on the inspection of the infrastructure of almost 100 call centers that attracted citizens to fictitious investment platforms and gained access to their bank accounts. Law enforcement also arrested the organizer of the Money 24/7 network, which posed as a cryptocurrency exchange service and exchange points. In another high-profile case, a fraudster offered a citizen $1 million to help avoid extradition to Russia, but was detained. ### Contradictory Data Although official sources confirm the arrest and return of funds, details of the interaction between the participants remain the subject of further investigation. In particular, it is not yet clear how deeply the 17-year-old courier understood the criminal nature of his actions or whether he was misled by the 20-year-old organizer. Furthermore, there is no information in open sources on how exactly the fraudsters contacted the former deputy and what specific data about him was used to persuade him. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: How much money was swindled from the former deputy? **A:** $31,800. ### Q: Who participated in the fraud? **A:** A 20-year-old resident of Odesa and a 17-year-old courier. ### Q: Was the money returned? **A:** Yes, the funds were returned to the owner before the transfer to crypto.