Fake recruitment from the “ship captain”: Zhytomyr police officers exposed a city resident in fraud

A 40-year-old resident of Zhytomyr, under the pretext of helping with the preparation of employment documents, took possession of the money of at least two potential job seekers.

It was established that the defendant selected his «clients» among sailors. To search for candidates, the man used illegally obtained data from the websites of crewing companies. The defendant negotiated with potential clients personally, calling himself the captain of the ship. In a telephone conversation, he offered the seeker a job on a foreign vessel with an attractive salary.

The interlocutors had no doubts about the truthfulness of the offer, since the defendant possessed specific terminology and had the relevant knowledge, as he himself had worked in the field of water logistics for a long time.

In order to get a job, the candidate had to pass a medical examination and obtain relevant certificates in a short period of time. So the recruiter offered to solve all the formalities for an additional fee. The candidates agreed and sent funds (from 5 thousand hryvnias each) to the bank card number indicated by the interlocutor. After that «captain» he kept in touch with them for a few more days and even sent allegedly real copies of the necessary documents, but then he disappeared. And the deceived sailors did not wait for the promised fees.

During the authorized search of the man's place of residence, law enforcement officers seized mobile phones, SIM cards used by the «recruiter», computer equipment and bank cards issued to different owners. It was established that the person involved purchased them from his acquaintances and used them to conduct transactions with illegally obtained funds.

Now the police officers of the Zhytomyr district administration have collected evidence of the man's involvement in at least two such frauds. However, law enforcement officers have reason to believe that the number of victims exceeds one and a half dozen. The necessary procedural actions in the proceedings are ongoing.

The other day, the investigators of the Zhytomyr District Police Department informed the man that he was suspected of committing criminal offenses provided for in part. 2 Art. 190 (Fraud) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The criminal police department of the Zhytomyr district administration provides operative support in the proceedings.

The suspect faces penalties ranging from fines to three years in prison for the crime.