She told you she loved you. She promised to visit the United States, sent photographs of a passport or visa, and asked for help with tickets, medical treatment, rent, insurance, or another emergency.
You sent money because you trusted the relationship. Later, you discovered that her name, documents, location, or personal story was false.
Does that make the situation a crime in Ukraine?
Direct answer: A romance scam may qualify as fraud under Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine when a person obtains money, property, or property rights through deliberate deception or abuse of trust. A failed relationship, broken promise, or decision not to meet is not automatically criminal fraud.
The legal issue is not whether the relationship ended badly. The central question is whether false information was intentionally used to make the victim transfer money.
What Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine Says
Article 190 defines fraud as obtaining another person’s property or acquiring a right to property through deception or abuse of trust.
In an online romance scam, deception may involve false claims about:
- the person’s real name or identity;
- the owner of the photographs;
- marital status or children;
- current location;
- employment or military service;
- a medical diagnosis or emergency;
- a passport, visa, ticket, or insurance document;
- the purpose of a requested payment;
- an intention to travel or meet;
- the identity of the payment recipient.
Abuse of trust may occur when a scammer deliberately builds an emotional relationship and then uses that trust to obtain money.
You can read the current text of the Criminal Code of Ukraine on the official website of the Verkhovna Rada.
What Must Be Shown in a Romance Fraud Case?
A persuasive fraud case normally requires more than proof that money was sent and the relationship ended.
The available evidence should help establish several connected facts:
- A material statement was false. The scammer lied about an identity, document, emergency, travel expense, medical problem, or another important fact.
- The deception existed before the payment. The false story was not invented only after the relationship ended.
- The victim relied on the false information. The lie influenced the decision to transfer money or property.
- Money or property was transferred. There are payment records, receipts, bank details, wallet addresses, or gift card information.
- The person acted intentionally. The surrounding evidence indicates that the purpose of the deception was to obtain money.
The final criminal classification is determined by Ukrainian investigators, prosecutors, and courts. A private investigation can identify evidence and inconsistencies, but it does not replace an official criminal proceeding.
When a Failed Online Relationship Is Not Criminal Fraud
Not every dishonest or painful online relationship meets the legal definition of fraud.
The following circumstances alone do not automatically prove a crime:
- she stopped answering messages;
- she changed her mind about meeting;
- she ended the relationship after receiving a genuine gift;
- she exaggerated her feelings;
- she canceled a trip;
- she spent voluntarily received money differently than expected;
- she was communicating with another man;
- she made a promise that she later failed to keep.
The case becomes stronger when there is evidence that the supposed relationship, identity, emergency, or purpose of the payment was false from the beginning.
Examples of Deception That May Support an Article 190 Case
| Claim made to the victim | Evidence later discovered |
|---|---|
| “This is my real Ukrainian passport.” | The document is fabricated, altered, stolen, or belongs to another person. |
| “I already received a U.S. visa.” | The visa image is fake or does not exist in the claimed person’s travel history. |
| “I need money for emergency surgery.” | The hospital, invoice, diagnosis, or doctor cannot be confirmed. |
| “I bought a ticket to visit you.” | The ticket or reservation is false, canceled before payment, or unrelated to the claimed traveler. |
| “I am trapped at the Ukrainian border.” | The alleged border fee, permit, insurance requirement, or official document is fabricated. |
| “These are my personal photographs.” | The images belong to a model, influencer, webcam performer, or unrelated person. |
| “Send the money to my relative.” | The recipient is connected to other scam cases or has no credible relationship to the claimed emergency. |
| “I am single and want to marry you.” | The person is married and uses the same romantic story with several foreign victims while requesting money. |
No single inconsistency always proves criminal intent. The complete pattern matters.
Is Asking for Money Online a Crime?
Simply asking for money is not automatically illegal.
A real person may genuinely need financial help. A man may also voluntarily decide to send a gift without receiving a legal promise in return.
The potential crime arises when the money is obtained through intentional deception or abuse of trust.
For example, a request may become evidence of fraud when:
- a fake visa is used to request ticket money;
- a fabricated medical invoice is used to request treatment costs;
- stolen photographs are used to create a false romantic identity;
- a fake military or refugee document is used to create urgency;
- the same emergency story is sent to several victims;
- the payment is redirected to an undisclosed operator or money recipient;
- the scammer continues inventing new expenses after each transfer.
Article 190 Penalties Explained
Article 190 contains five levels of criminal liability. The applicable part depends on the amount, repetition, involvement of other people, circumstances of the offense, and other evidence.
| Article 190 | General circumstances | Possible sanction |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Basic fraud through deception or abuse of trust | Fine, community or corrective work, probation supervision, or restriction of liberty for up to three years |
| Part 2 | Repeated fraud, prior conspiracy by a group, or significant harm to the victim | Fine, corrective work, restriction of liberty for up to five years, or imprisonment for up to three years |
| Part 3 | Fraud committed during martial or emergency law that caused significant harm | Fine or imprisonment for three to five years |
| Part 4 | Large-scale fraud or fraud through illegal operations involving computer technology | Imprisonment for three to eight years |
| Part 5 | Especially large-scale fraud or fraud committed by an organized group | Imprisonment for five to twelve years with confiscation of property |
The maximum twelve-year sentence does not apply automatically to every online romance scam. It is associated with especially large-scale fraud or an organized group.
Does Using WhatsApp or a Dating Site Automatically Trigger Part 4?
No.
Article 190 Part 4 refers to fraud through illegal operations using electronic computing technology. Merely sending messages through WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, email, or a dating website does not automatically place a case under Part 4.
The role of computers, accounts, payment systems, and technical operations must be examined in the specific case. The final qualification belongs to law enforcement and the court.
Does Martial Law Automatically Make the Penalty More Severe?
No. Article 190 Part 3 requires more than the fact that Ukraine is under martial law.
The provision refers to fraud that:
- was committed during martial or emergency law; and
- caused significant harm to the victim.
A scammer’s use of a war story may be strong evidence of deliberate deception, but it does not by itself automatically determine the applicable part of Article 190.
Fraud Amount Thresholds in Ukraine for 2026
The Criminal Code uses a special calculation for significant, large, and especially large property losses.
For 2026, the subsistence minimum for an able-bodied person is ₴3,328. The calculation unit commonly used for qualifying property crimes is 50% of that amount, or ₴1,664.
| Classification | 2026 threshold | Approximate USD equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Significant harm | From ₴166,400, while also considering the victim’s financial circumstances | Approximately $3,800 |
| Large scale | From ₴416,000 | Approximately $9,500 |
| Especially large scale | From ₴998,400 | Approximately $23,000 |
The USD amounts are approximate and will change with the exchange rate. The legally relevant amount is calculated in Ukrainian hryvnia and generally depends on the rules and values applicable when the offense occurred.
Significant harm also requires consideration of the victim’s financial circumstances. It is not determined by the amount alone.
The 2026 subsistence-minimum figures are available in the Law on the State Budget of Ukraine for 2026.
What If the Loss Was Below the Significant-Harm Threshold?
A smaller loss does not automatically mean that no fraud occurred.
Basic fraud under Article 190 Part 1 does not require the especially large or large-scale thresholds. The amount can affect the qualification and possible sanction, but the core issue remains whether money was obtained through deception or abuse of trust.
Evidence can therefore matter even when the victim lost $500, $1,000, or another amount below the higher statutory thresholds.
How Fake Passports, Visas, and Medical Documents Affect the Case
Fake documents can be important evidence that the deception was planned.
Examples include:
- Ukrainian or Russian passports;
- national ID cards;
- U.S. or Schengen visas;
- airline tickets;
- travel-insurance policies;
- hospital invoices;
- medical diagnoses;
- military notices;
- bank letters;
- contracts or government forms.
A forged document can support the fraud allegation by demonstrating that the financial story was deliberately fabricated.
In some circumstances, the creation, sale, or knowing use of a forged official document may also raise a separate issue under Article 358 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Article 358 does not automatically apply to every edited screenshot. The legal meaning depends on whether the material qualifies as an official document, its intended use, and the surrounding facts.
Real Case: Fake U.S. Visa Used to Obtain $7,000
In one case submitted to us, an American client had communicated with a Ukrainian woman for approximately two years.
She said that she wanted to visit him in the United States and sent an image of what appeared to be a U.S. tourist visa. Based on the relationship and the document, the client sent approximately $7,000 for alleged paperwork, travel, and ticket expenses.
Our investigation determined that the visa was fake.
The false document was important because it was not merely a broken romantic promise. It was specific material presented as official proof to support requests for money.
We helped the client organize the available evidence and prepare materials for possible legal action in Ukraine. We do not guarantee that police will open a particular proceeding, that prosecutors will file charges, that a court will convict a person, or that lost money will be recovered.
Evidence That Can Strengthen a Romance Fraud Case
Preserve evidence before confronting or blocking the suspected scammer.
- the complete dating profile and profile ID;
- profile URLs and usernames;
- all photographs and videos;
- the complete chat history;
- emails and email headers;
- phone numbers;
- voice messages;
- passport, visa, ticket, and medical-document files;
- bank-transfer receipts;
- recipient names and account numbers;
- PayPal, Wise, Western Union, or money-transfer details;
- cryptocurrency wallet addresses and transaction hashes;
- gift card receipts and codes;
- the date, amount, and explanation for every payment;
- messages showing promises made before the transfer;
- messages containing urgency, threats, guilt, or emotional pressure;
- evidence that the same person used another name or profile.
Original files are preferable to screenshots when available. Do not edit or rename evidence unnecessarily.
Can a U.S. Victim Report a Ukrainian Romance Scam?
A victim living in the United States can submit information about suspected fraud connected to Ukraine.
The available routes may include:
- the Cyberpolice of Ukraine;
- the National Police of Ukraine;
- the victim’s bank or payment provider;
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center reports;
- Federal Trade Commission reports;
- local U.S. law enforcement;
- legal advice concerning a civil claim or criminal proceeding in Ukraine.
Jurisdiction, criminal classification, investigative steps, and prosecution decisions belong to the relevant authorities.
For detailed reporting instructions, read How to Report a Romance Scam to Ukrainian Police.
Criminal Report, Civil Claim, and Payment Recovery Are Different
| Action | Main purpose |
|---|---|
| Criminal report | Inform law enforcement about conduct that may constitute a criminal offense |
| Criminal investigation | Identify suspects, obtain evidence, determine legal qualification, and decide whether charges are appropriate |
| Civil claim | Seek compensation or repayment through a civil legal process |
| Civil claim within criminal proceedings | Seek compensation through a procedural claim connected to a criminal case, where legally available |
| Bank recall or payment dispute | Attempt to stop, reverse, trace, or challenge a financial transaction |
Opening a criminal case does not automatically return the money. Likewise, a payment dispute does not determine whether a criminal offense occurred.
How the Scam Action Roadmap Works
Our Scam Action Roadmap is designed for victims who have already sent money and need to understand what can realistically be done next.
Depending on the available evidence, the review may include:
- organizing the complete timeline;
- identifying the names, contacts, profiles, and payment recipients used;
- reviewing documents and financial requests;
- separating confirmed facts from assumptions;
- identifying missing evidence;
- assessing which reporting routes may be relevant;
- preparing a practical sequence of next steps.
We are not the police, prosecutor, or court. We cannot guarantee criminal charges, conviction, asset recovery, or repayment.
Important Legal Notice
This article provides general information about Ukrainian law and online romance-fraud evidence. It is not individual legal advice.
Article 190 qualification depends on the specific facts, date of the conduct, amount of loss, evidence of intent, role of each participant, and current law. A qualified Ukrainian attorney should review the case when formal legal representation or a civil claim is required.
Final Answer
Romance scamming can be a crime in Ukraine when a person intentionally uses deception or abuse of trust to obtain money, property, or property rights.
The strongest cases are not based only on heartbreak. They contain evidence of a false identity, fake documents, fabricated emergencies, dishonest payment explanations, repeated schemes, or other deliberate lies that existed before the victim transferred money.
Preserve the evidence before confronting the person. A clear timeline, original documents, complete chats, and payment records can be far more useful than a general statement that the relationship was dishonest.
