An organized criminal group of bankers who embezzled clients' funds was exposed

Regional law enforcement officers identified employees of one of the bank branches who received unauthorized access to the accounts of a certain category of clients and processed them directly in the branch. The defendants face up to 6 years in prison.

The Cyber ​​Police of Lviv Region, together with investigators of the Main Police Department of the region and the SBU Department in the region, under the procedural guidance of the Lviv Regional Prosecutor's Office, exposed employees of one of the Ukrainian banks in the illegal appropriation of client funds during 2023-2024.

Having access to client data that could remain in the temporarily occupied territories, employees of the banking institution, on the instructions of the head of the branch, changed citizens' financial numbers to controlled ones and reissued bank cards.

Subsequently, the defendants, having divided the criminal roles among themselves, appropriated other people's savings using self-service terminals or POS terminals located in the bank branch.

It was established that in this way members of the organized criminal group gained access to about 50 accounts of citizens. The total amount of losses caused exceeds 5 million UAH.

Law enforcement officers conducted a series of searches at the places of residence and registration of the defendants. Bank cards, mobile phones, as well as draft records with confidential financial information about bank clients, on whose accounts unauthorized financial transactions were carried out, were seized.

The organizer of the scheme, the executor and the accomplice were charged with suspicion under Part 3, Part 5 of Art. 27; Part 3 of Art. 28,  Part 1, 3 of Art. 362  (Unauthorized actions with information processed in electronic computers (computers), automated systems, computer networks or stored on media of such information, committed by a person who has the right to access it) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. They face up to 6 years of imprisonment with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for a term of up to three years.

Currently, the court has chosen preventive measures for the defendants. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. Additional qualification is possible.

The crime was uncovered in cooperation with the security department of one of the Ukrainian banks.