Ukrainians Use Fake Dating Profiles to Scam Russians for War Funds
Ukrainian scammers are reportedly exploiting fake dating profiles to defraud Russian men out of thousands of pounds, using the funds to support their nation's ongoing war effort. The operation, identified as the "Monetary Army," has been successfully deceiving Russian soldiers, police officers, and military academy students, among others, with tactics designed to extract up to £19,000 from individual victims.
The scammers, who operate under the guise of attractive women on the popular Russian dating app Divinchik, employ a variety of deceptive strategies to target their victims. Arthur, a member of the Monetary Army, detailed their approach to the Telegraph, explaining that the primary goal is to lure men into purchasing tickets for fictitious events, such as theater performances, stand-up comedy shows, or cinema screenings. These tickets are priced at around £35 and are paid for using cryptocurrencies to avoid detection.
Once the transaction is complete, the scammers inform the victims that the event cannot proceed and instruct them to seek a refund. The refund process is facilitated through a fake customer support channel, often operated by the same scammer under a different identity. Victims are then coerced into purchasing additional tickets as a deposit for the refund, further entrenching them in the scam.
Arthur disclosed that while the Monetary Army typically earns around £100 per scam, the most significant amount extracted from a single individual was £19,000. Though a portion of the funds is directed to support the Ukrainian army, the majority is used to compensate staff, with Arthur himself earning approximately £1,600 per month from the operation.
The Ukrainian military's need for financial support comes amid an intensifying conflict that has now persisted for 28 months. Recent hostilities saw Russian shelling in Ukraine resulting in the deaths of four individuals, while drone attacks by Ukrainian forces targeted a Russian oil depot in Rostov, igniting significant damage. Ukrainian officials reported casualties and injuries in both the Kherson and Kharkiv regions as the conflict continues to escalate.
In summary, the Monetary Army’s fraudulent schemes highlight a grim facet of the ongoing war, where the exploitation of digital platforms and personal interactions is used to fund the conflict. As the war rages on, both the psychological and financial toll on individuals continues to grow, with the deceptive practices of the Monetary Army representing a troubling intersection of technology and warfare.