Ukrainians exploit Russians in underground scam to fund military efforts

Ukrainians have established a covert operation that scams Russians out of their life savings, channeling the stolen funds directly to support Kyiv’s military efforts amid ongoing conflict.

Dubbed “the Office,” this operation runs call centers across Ukraine, employing individuals equipped with headsets, specialized software, and lists of Russian phone numbers. Organized crime groups in Ukraine reportedly manage the Office, which is part of a broader international scam network that also includes operations in countries like India and the Philippines, as well as within Russia itself.

Before the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, the Office primarily targeted individuals in Western countries, including the U.S. and various European Union nations.

However, following the escalation of hostilities, the operation pivoted entirely to focus on Russian civilians. The scam typically begins with victims receiving phone calls disguised as legitimate inquiries from mobile service providers, claiming that their accounts are at risk of being blocked due to unpaid payments. The ultimate goal is to drain the victims’ bank accounts entirely.

According to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), there are potentially thousands of scam call centers throughout Ukraine, embodying a form of “patriotic criminality” where individuals are motivated by the desire to contribute to Ukraine’s war efforts.

Some of these criminals are reported to have donated substantial amounts of money to Ukraine’s military, while also engaging in various support roles, including delivering aid and conducting cyberwarfare.

A 37-year-old operator named Stas, who works at the Kharkiv branch of the Office, explained the mechanics of the scam. His day involves calling assigned numbers, reaching out to as many as 200 individuals daily, typically aged between 20 and 50. Under the guise of an employee from mobile networks like Beeline or MTS, he informs the victims that their phone numbers are about to be blocked and that they need to extend their services to avoid disruption.

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While some Russians quickly recognize the ruse and hang up, others are less discerning. “The main thing is to hook at least one person,” Stas stated.

For those who remain engaged, he feigns urgency, urging them to provide their Russian taxpayer identification numbers—analogous to a U.S. Social Security Number. As he manipulates the conversation, he piles on various stories designed to extract personal information.

Once he collects the victim’s taxpayer number, Stas enters it into an encrypted Telegram chatbot specifically designed for this scam. This bot, programmed by Ukrainian hackers, compiles sensitive data about the victims’ properties, credit histories, and banking details, allowing the Office to deplete their accounts.

“If they have a good credit history, loans are taken out in their name for up to one and a half million dollars. Requests are sent to all banks in Russia, and all their property is taken away, down to their last piece of clothing,” he added.

Stas recounted that he once swindled a Russian lawyer out of $200,000, earning a 15% commission on each successful scam. With this scheme, he reportedly makes around $30,000 annually—significantly higher than the average Ukrainian salary of approximately $6,060 in 2023. While many Ukrainians grapple with poverty—estimated at 24% by the World Bank in 2022—the Office offers financial stability to some amidst the chaos of war.

Despite the gravity of his actions, Stas expressed no remorse for scamming Russians. He dismissed the victims as “pure a–holes” and stated, “I feel sad when our guys are killed…but not for them.” He acknowledged hearing stories of victims going into despair upon losing their life savings but noted, “It doesn’t bother me much.”

Another operator, Sasha, who works seasonally at the Office, described his feelings towards the work as ambivalent. He found the job dull and expressed discomfort at the thought of targeting ordinary civilians. “I just thought about if you put it in the place of close relatives; it’s unpleasant, and in general, it’s a pity for the Russians,” he said, yet maintained, “I don’t feel sorry for them.”

Both Stas and Sasha confirmed that the scams target a wide demographic in Russia, including individuals over 50, despite Stas’s assertion that he avoids elderly targets. While Sasha earned only $3,000 over three months, he noted that some operators made “insane amounts of money” and drove luxury cars to work. Many within the Office reportedly contribute part of their earnings to Ukraine’s military, as corroborated by a verified source who chose to remain anonymous.

Stas claimed he donates half of his annual income to military efforts, leaving himself with $15,000 a year to support his family.

Despite the financial benefits, he continues to live modestly in a war-torn neighborhood of Kharkiv that has faced relentless attacks. Stas’s own apartment was struck by a missile, forcing his family to seek refuge with his parents while they search for new housing.

While he could use his earnings from the Office to secure a more comfortable home, Stas prioritizes donating to the military, particularly to support the brigade where his brother is fighting in Donbas. Reflecting on the personal toll of the war, he shared, “It’s hard for me whenever I learn that our guys are dying. I grew up here. This is my country, at least. Even if it hasn’t given me anything, it’s my homeland. I grew up here. My whole life has been here.”