Within the framework of a joint investigative group established by the Office of the Prosecutor General and the Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases of the Republic of Moldova, Ukrainian and Moldovan law enforcement officers uncovered a fraudulent scheme involving the appropriation of money from Ukrainian citizens who ordered cars from the USA.

The organizers of the scheme created pages on social networks where they advertised their services for delivering cars to order. They collected advance payments from clients and then requested additional funds for unforeseen expenses related to customs clearance of the vehicles. After receiving the money, the organizers of the "business" ceased all communication with the buyers.

Prosecutors from the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office, together with cyber police operatives from Kyiv and investigators from the investigative department of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Kyiv, along with the "Center" of the National Inspectorate for Investigations of the Republic of Moldova, shut down this fraudulent scheme.

As part of international cooperation, 14 searches were conducted in Ukraine and Moldova at the residences and vehicles of the suspects.

It has been established that the "car business" was organized by a 36-year-old citizen of Ukraine who had lived in the Republic of Moldova for several years. Currently, 5 episodes of criminal activity have been identified, amounting to over 2 million hryvnias.

Law enforcement officers detained him on the territory of Moldova. The man has been informed of suspicion under part 5 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Moldova.

The investigation is ongoing.

Currently, law enforcement officers are analyzing the information obtained during the searches. Other participants involved in the illegal activities are being identified.

Note: according to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in a lawful manner and established by a court verdict.