Forensic Characteristics of Persons Committing Fraud against Relatives of those Missing during the Russian-Ukrainian War

Abstract

Abstract. The full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine has led to the emergence of new types of fraud. Families of military personnel who have lost contact with their loved ones are constantly in a state of stress and uncertainty. This emotional state is actively used by criminals who manipulate feelings of hope, fear and the desire to learn any information about the fate of their relatives. Investigating cases of fraud directed against relatives of prisoners of war, illegally detained or missing during the Russian-Ukrainian war is an extremely difficult task. In many situations, criminal proceedings do not reach court or end without convictions. Among the key reasons for this phenomenon, one can single out the high level of concealment of such crimes under the guise of various legitimate activities, such as investment or volunteering. Additional factors include: insufficient coordination between investigative bodies and prosecutors; errors in determining the legal qualification of crimes; inappropriateness or groundlessness of investigators' requests for operational-search or other procedural actions, which often causes them to be rejected. In light of the increased relevance of the studied category of crimes and taking into account the significant complexity that accompanies the process of their investigation, there is an urgent need to develop modern scientific approaches and developments to overcome existing difficulties and meet urgent needs in improving the investigation of such criminal offenses, in particular by studying the forensic characteristics of persons who commit fraudulent acts against close relatives of servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who have disappeared, which will significantly increase the efficiency of law enforcement agencies in this area. This will not only provide an opportunity to better understand the nature of such offenses, but also to develop effective mechanisms for their detection and counteraction. Thanks to these measures, it is possible to contribute to greater stability of law and order in society, creating an atmosphere of trust in the protection system and ensuring a sense of security and protection of citizens from fraudulent actions of this nature. The purpose of the article is to study the features of the forensic characteristics of individuals who commit fraud against loved ones and relatives of those who went missing during the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation (RF). The practical significance of the article lies in determining the typical forensic characteristics of fraudsters, which serves as the basis for improving not only the methods of investigating such crimes, but also preventive measures and organizational countermeasures. A generalized portrait of a fraudster who commits fraud against relatives or close prisoners of war, illegally detained or missing persons, allows for more effective identification of such individuals and improvement of approaches to their tracking and exposure. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the definition and systematization of the forensic characteristics of persons who commit fraudulent acts against relatives or close people who have disappeared. The developed generalized forensic characteristics of this type of fraudsters allow us to create a more detailed socio-psychological portrait of the criminal, identify the specifics of his behavior and motives, and also direct efforts to develop effective methods and approaches for his detection and exposure. This, in turn, contributes to a significant increase in the efficiency of law enforcement agencies in preventing and investigating such crimes.

Keywords: illegal gain; identity of the criminal; electronic computing equipment; manipulation; victim; relatives of military personnel.