When selling goods online, Ukrainians may receive counterfeit money. For example, fraudsters have already been exposed buying Apple equipment in Kyiv on a classified ads service using counterfeit dollars.
This was reported by the Bureau of Economic Security (BES). They noted that during searches, cash in excess of $10,000 was seized from the fraudsters.
"Regarding the distribution of counterfeit foreign currency, three individuals have been notified of suspicion under Article 199 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The article provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment with confiscation of property," the message states.
How fraudsters bought equipment with counterfeit money
In general, law enforcement officers reported, the fraudsters contacted their victims directly. In fact, they handed over the counterfeit money right into their hands.
To do this, the fraudsters first found an advertisement for the sale of Apple equipment on a popular classified ad service that interested them. After that:
they contacted the seller and arranged a meeting; they paid for the goods with counterfeit bills.Which dollars the fraudsters counterfeited
The NBU previously reported that in 2024, the dollar accounted for 93% of counterfeit banknotes among all foreign currencies. At the same time, counterfeit money was mostly found in large denominations.
Thus, the most popular banknote among fraudsters was the $100 bill—90% of the total number of seized counterfeit U.S. currency notes was attributed to it.
The second "favorite" banknote among the criminals was the $50 bill. It accounted for 9% of the total number of seized fakes.
Meanwhile, the regulator noted that one should avoid exchange transactions "by hand," over the internet, and the like. This, it is noted, will help avoid receiving counterfeit foreign currency.
"For exchange, you should contact exclusively the currency exchange points of banks licensed by the National Bank. Or non-bank financial institutions," emphasized the NBU.
At the same time, Ukrainian banks and exchange offices may not accept certain denominations of foreign currencies— including dollars. And on "legal" grounds—since current rules allow for the refusal to accept damaged bills.