Businesses in the Kyiv region have been warned about fake letters sent in the name of the Regional State Administration
19 May 22:54
Fraudsters have become active in the Kyiv region, contacting businesses on behalf of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration and its leadership and asking them to transfer money allegedly for the needs of the Ukrainian military. This was reported by Mykola Kalashnyk,head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
According to him, the administration has not sent such letters and has not authorized any third parties, foundations, or organizations to collect funds on its behalf.
How the scam works
According to the Kyiv Regional Military Administration, unknown individuals are contacting business representatives and organization leaders, allegedly on behalf of regional authorities.
The scammers may:
- send fake letters;
- call business owners;
- approach the heads of institutions in person;
- use the name of the head of the Regional State Administration;
- refer to members of the administration’s team;
- ask for or demand money supposedly “for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
In such communications, scammers use the Ukrainian Armed Forces as a cover, but in reality, this is a fraudulent scheme.
What the Kyiv Regional State Administration stated
Mykola Kalashnyk emphasized that the Kyiv Regional State Administration does not conduct official fundraisers for the army in this manner.
The administration has also not authorized any third parties, charitable foundations, or organizations to collect funds on its behalf. All such letters, calls, or requests to transfer money should be treated as suspicious.
The Regional State Administration has already forwarded all information regarding the reported instances of fraud to law enforcement agencies.
Investigations are currently underway to identify those involved.
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Who Do Scammers Target
Most often, such schemes target:
- business owners;
- company executives;
- representatives of institutions;
- charitable organizations;
- local businesses;
- leaders of public and municipal organizations.
Scammers are counting on the fact that businesses will not want to refuse to help the military and will quickly transfer the money without further verification.
What should businesses do if they receive such a letter
If a business owner or institution head receives a letter or call requesting a money transfer on behalf of the Kyiv Regional State Administration, do not rush to make the payment.
You should:
- verify the information on the Kyiv Regional State Administration’s official resources;
- do not transfer funds to unknown accounts;
- do not disclose financial information to third parties;
- save the letter, phone number, account details, and screenshots;
- report any suspicious contact to law enforcement or the administration.
Similar scams have been reported before
Schemes involving fake fees collected in the name of officials are not new.
In January 2025, Mykola Kalashnyk had already reported that entrepreneurs and organizations were receiving letters on unofficial letterhead with forged signatures and seals purportedly on his behalf. At the time, he also emphasized that the Kyiv Regional State Administration does not participate in such fundraising programs.
In addition, the SBU recently warned of a rise in the number of scams in which criminals pose as law enforcement officers or government officials to psychologically pressure citizens and extort money.
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