How scammers sell fake love stories from occupied Ukraine

Summary

How are online romance scammers exploiting Russia’s war against Ukraine to steal money from men abroad? The Kyiv Independent’s Linda Hourani investigates a growing pattern of dating scams in which fake Ukrainian women claim to be trapped in Russian-occupied territories and ask foreign men to pay for their escape. The investigation examines how niche dating platforms, including websites operated by Australia-based Cupid Media, enable fake profiles to operate, and traces clues pointing to possible Russian connections. These scams put pressure on Ukrainian evacuation organizations, whose teams…

Description from The Kyiv Independent.