In Odesa, law enforcement officials have uncovered a fraudster. Five citizens fell victim to the scam. As a result of his actions, the victims lost a total of 20,500 hryvnias. The police have charged the offender, who now faces imprisonment.

Officers from police station No. 2 of the Odesa district police department No. 1 found that a 50-year-old man posted a false advertisement online for air conditioning repair services. Over the course of several days, five individuals contacted this «master.» During their meetings, he discussed the scope of work, promised to start the next day, took an advance payment, and then vanished.

The fraudster caused significant losses totaling 20,500 hryvnias. Once the victims realized they had been scammed, they sought help from the police. During the investigation, law enforcement tracked down the perpetrator. The man admitted to spending the money on his personal needs.

«We have gathered sufficient evidence and notified the suspect of charges under parts 1 and 2 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – for acquiring someone else's property through deception, i.e., fraud, especially committed repeatedly. The suspect faces up to three years in prison. The investigation is ongoing under the procedural guidance of the Suvorovsky District Prosecutor's Office in Odesa,» said investigator Mykola Orlyk.

The police urge citizens to seek services only from official service centers and verified specialists, and to prefer post-payment options. Adhering to these rules will help avoid financial losses.