The Prague Investigation Department has exposed fraudsters who collected more than 1.1 million crowns (approximately 44 thousand euros) from donors as part of a fundraiser for Ukraine under the banner of the JSME LIDÉ (“We are the People”) Foundation.
This was reported on Saturday, September 21, by Prague police spokesperson Eva Kropachova. As tells Novinky edition, For several months, the scammers collected money in different places: in department stores and supermarkets in Prague and nearby municipalities in the Central Bohemia region. However, according to police, they used the money to travel around the world. The main organizer, who is 18, faces up to eight years in prison. Kropacheva says:
“They used the money for their own needs, traveled around the world with it, stayed abroad, paid for common expenses such as rent and food. In this way, they abused the difficult situation of people affected by the war in Ukraine and the desire of citizens to make their contribution to help this country.”
During searches of the criminals' homes, police seized hundreds of thousands of crowns in cashbank cells where the fraudsters withdrew money, and many documents. According to the press secretary, The police have so far proven that the damage caused amounts to 1.1 million crowns, but in reality it could be several times greater.
The JSME LIDÉ foundation is registered in the Czech commercial register, but has no website or social media accounts. Last week, police arrested the alleged main organizer of the fake fundraiser on suspicion of fraud. A criminal case has also been opened against a legal entity that was also involved in the fraud.
In connection with this incident Police warned citizens to be careful in situations like this:
“If someone approaches them with a request for help, do not be afraid to ask for proof of registration of the fee and perhaps check everything with the relevant regional office, the Prague municipality or the Ministry of the Interior.”
In August, the Czech prosecutor's office charged Vladimir Gergel, the founder of the charity Help Ukraine, with fraud for embezzling part of a grant from the Czech Ministry of Education.
In addition, since last year, Estonia and Ukraine have been investigating the possible theft of 1.5 million euros, which were donated to war victims in the Russian Federation, by the Estonian non-profit foundation Slava Ukraini and its Ukrainian partners.
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