Fakes are sold in fictitious exchange offices.
Fake dollars are being massively distributed in Ukraine. Fraudsters even open exchange offices that look like regular exchange offices, but in fact only distribute counterfeit currency.
The Observer publication writes about this.
In one of the stores that OBOZ.UA managed to find, they offer to buy 100 counterfeit dollars for 1 thousand hryvnia. The current rate is 10 UAH for one counterfeit dollar.
“Amounts over 400 dollars are discussed separately and sent only upon prepayment,” said the seller.
Sellers assure that the quality of the fakes is so high that it is almost impossible to distinguish them from real dollars. Allegedly, they can be exchanged even in some exchange offices, however, most likely, the fake will be noticed at the bank's cash desk.
“For 2 thousand UAH I sell detailed instructions for selling dollars, you can buy a set with a card. It is better to sell at exchange points , there definitely won’t be any problems there. I can also send you instructions on which network is better to go to,” says the seller.
In fact, Ukrainians quite often do not exchange dollars for hryvnia. Many people simply store and accumulate them for a rainy day. Many agree to receive payment in cash dollars: for vehicles, housing, jewelry, etc.
Last year, law enforcement officers discovered scammers who organized an exchange office, used someone else’s name and sold counterfeit dollars to the public. That is, even if you do not take dollars from the hands of individuals, but use the services of supposedly legal exchangers, you are still at risk.
How not to buy fake dollars
If you use the services of exchangers, on the NBU website there is a list of all financial institutions that have the right to engage in exchange. There you can see the address of the exchanger. Therefore, before using the services, pay attention to whether this exchanger operates legally at this address. Also make sure that the same legal name is indicated in the registry and in the documents of the exchanger (the license is placed in an accessible place). Only after making sure that the exchanger operates legally can you use its services. It is also important to keep receipts.
Where it is better not to buy currency and how to check it – read in news.
