In Kharkiv region, fraudsters are posing as members of the SBU (Security Service of Ukraine).
The SBU warns of an increase in cases where fraudsters pose as employees of the Security Service of Ukraine. They intimidate people with fabricated criminal cases of treason and demand money to avoid punishment.
The head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in the Kharkiv region, Vladislav Abdula, reported an increase in cases where fraudsters impersonate employees of the Security Service of Ukraine.
According to Abdul, the criminals are threatening people with fabricated criminal cases related to alleged treason against the state, funding Russia, or purchasing prohibited goods. To increase the pressure, they send fake summonses via messaging apps, and then offer to avoid punishment for money, demanding that the recipient transfer or hand over funds "for verification" or "to avoid criminal liability."
The SBU advises those who have found themselves in a similar situation to document the details of the individuals they have contacted, avoid sharing confidential banking card data, and refrain from making urgent financial transfers. It is also recommended to verify all available information using only official sources, such as the website of the Security Service of Ukraine (ssu.gov.ua) and its verified pages on social media.
If a suspected fraudster pretended to be an employee of the SBU, it is advisable to contact the hotline at number 1516, the email address callcenter@ssu.gov.ua, sbu_cu@ssu.gov.ua, or the "Spaly" chatbot of the FSB: t.me/spaly_fsb_bot.