Toronto police have charged a 44-year-old man from British Columbia in connection with a fraud scheme targeting Ukrainian citizens living abroad. The accused, identified as Sergiy Manko of Tsawwassen, B.C., was arrested on Tuesday and faces charges of fraud under $5,000 and possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000.
The investigation began on January 29, when Toronto Police's Financial Crimes Unit received a complaint from a Ukrainian state-sponsored organization. This organization is responsible for facilitating administrative services for Ukrainians abroad, including the issuance and renewal of passports, identification cards, and other official government documents.
How the Scheme Worked
According to police, individuals seeking these services must book appointments through an online portal operated by State Enterprise Document, the only entity authorized by the Ukrainian government to provide such services outside Ukraine. Booking an appointment through this system is free of charge.
However, police allege that automated software applications, commonly known as bots, were used to flood the system and secure a high volume of appointments. The suspect or suspects then advertised and sold these appointments through Ukrainian social media platforms and chat groups to individuals in Canada and the United States.
Victims who purchased these appointments attended in person, only to discover that the bookings were not registered in their names. The scheme exploited the urgent need for official documents among the Ukrainian diaspora.
Investigation and Charges
Police believe there may be additional suspects and victims. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities urge anyone with information to come forward. Sergiy Manko is scheduled to appear in a Toronto court on June 23 to answer to the charges.
Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact the Toronto Police Financial Crimes Unit at 416-808-7300 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
This case highlights the growing threat of cyber-enabled fraud targeting vulnerable communities. The use of bots to bypass legitimate systems is a tactic increasingly seen in various scams, and law enforcement is working to combat these digital crimes.
