Ilyashev & Partners Defends the Interests of a Greek Company Bilked in the Medical Mask Scam in Odesa

07/ 05/ 2020

Ilyashev & Partners represents the victim, a Greek supplier of medical equipment and goods, in the high-profile criminal proceeding instituted by the Main Department of the National Police in Odesa Region into the medical masks supply scam. Having ordered medical masks from Odesa supplier in February 2020, the Greek company lost more than USD 100 thousand without receiving any goods in return. The supplier, the intermediary company and the transport company involved in the fraudulent scheme turned out to be fictitious. To make such online transactions seem legal, a number of websites have been created, including a shipping tracking portal that used non-existent email addresses and fabricated identities of directors. “It is already established that our client is not the only victim in this case, – said Sergey Nedelko, the Attorney at Law and the Head of Odessa office of Ilyashev & Partners. – The victims of this criminal group are also at least two companies from Singapore, which gave the case an international resonance by asking for help from the Singaporean parliamentarians and the Embassy of Ukraine in Singapore. Given the possible negative consequences for the international image of Ukraine, the Embassy promptly sent a note to the National Police bodies for further investigation”. The preliminary results of investigation demonstrate the systemic and large-scale nature of criminal activities. Ilyashev & Partners Law Firm, together with the law enforcement agencies, developed a plan for conducting a series of investigative actions aimed at returning the client’s property as soon as possible and bringing the perpetrators to justice. “Given the scale of scam, we recommend that companies conduct a thorough due diligence of all new contractors before making any payments thereto”, – noted Sergey Nedelko. Founded in 1997, Ilyashev & Partners is one of the most prominent law firms in Eastern Europe. Today, Ilyashev & Partners employs more than 120 people in Ukraine, Russia and Estonia with its offices and representatives in Kyiv, Moscow, Tallinn, Dnipro, Simferopol, Odesa and Kharkiv. The firm has been recognized by the most prestigious legal market research guides, according to which it occupies a leading position in the markets of Ukraine, Russia and Estonia.

Having ordered medical masks from Odesa supplier in February 2020, the Greek company lost more than USD 100 thousand without receiving any goods in return. The supplier, the intermediary company and the transport company involved in the fraudulent scheme turned out to be fictitious. To make such online transactions seem legal, a number of websites have been created, including a shipping tracking portal that used non-existent email addresses and fabricated identities of directors.

“It is already established that our client is not the only victim in this case, – said Sergey Nedelko, the Attorney at Law and the Head of Odessa office of Ilyashev & Partners. – The victims of this criminal group are also at least two companies from Singapore, which gave the case an international resonance by asking for help from the Singaporean parliamentarians and the Embassy of Ukraine in Singapore. Given the possible negative consequences for the international image of Ukraine, the Embassy promptly sent a note to the National Police bodies for further investigation”.

The preliminary results of investigation demonstrate the systemic and large-scale nature of criminal activities. Ilyashev & Partners Law Firm, together with the law enforcement agencies, developed a plan for conducting a series of investigative actions aimed at returning the client’s property as soon as possible and bringing the perpetrators to justice. “Given the scale of scam, we recommend that companies conduct a thorough due diligence of all new contractors before making any payments thereto”, – noted Sergey Nedelko.

Founded in 1997, Ilyashev & Partners is one of the most prominent law firms in Eastern Europe. Today, Ilyashev & Partners employs more than 120 people in Ukraine, Russia and Estonia with its offices and representatives in Kyiv, Moscow, Tallinn, Dnipro, Simferopol, Odesa and Kharkiv. The firm has been recognized by the most prestigious legal market research guides, according to which it occupies a leading position in the markets of Ukraine, Russia and Estonia.