Fake Lawyer Caught in Fraud Scheme
A fraudster was apprehended in Odessa while attempting to swindle money from a conscript. The perpetrator used manipulation to achieve his goal. The court will determine the next steps for the offender.
Officers from the Odessa Department of Internal Security of the National Police, in collaboration with investigators from the Odessa region's Main Police Department, uncovered a 33-year-old Odessa resident involved in illegal activities. It turned out this was not his first offense.
Despite a prior conviction for fraud and current charges of abuse of power, the criminal decided to continue his illicit actions. He promised a man, who held military deferment documents valid until 2026, that he could remove him from military registration for health reasons in exchange for $15,000.
To appear credible, he posed as a lawyer and claimed to have connections with officials from the district Territorial Recruitment Center.
To ensure the man would not back out of the deal, the fraudster resorted to threats: he warned that he would cancel the deferment and report him as wanted. Furthermore, he insisted that the opportunity to finalize the documents was only available now, with the next chance not coming for at least another six months.
The arrest occurred immediately after the money was handed over: officers from the Internal Security and Odessa police detained the scammer under Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. He has already been charged under part 3 of Article 369-2 (Abuse of Influence) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which carries a penalty of up to 8 years in prison.
The Odessa Regional Prosecutor's Office is overseeing the proceedings.
Source: https://od.npu.gov.ua/news/za-15-000-dolariv-obitsiav-zvilnyty-vid-viiskovoi-sluzhby-v-odesi-natspolitsiia-zatrymaly-psevdoadvokata
