Ukraine's BEB Investigates Tax Evasion via Anonymous Telegram Channels

The Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine (BEB) has launched pre-trial investigations into the activities of anonymous Telegram channels. Investigators found that channel owners utilize extensive networks of individual entrepreneurs (FOPs) to systematically evade taxes on advertising income.

Financial Manipulation Tactics

According to Pavlo Budzygan, Deputy Head of BEB, detectives have identified the individuals involved and tracked their financial flows. The suspects use bank accounts and crypto wallets to move funds. Once investigative actions begin, owners often attempt to close their FOPs or transfer them to straw persons to avoid detection.

Yaroslav Zheleznyak, Chairman of the Temporary Investigative Commission (TSC), presented monitoring results of channels with multi-million turnovers. Advertising costs on these platforms range from 60,000 UAH to over $1,800 per post. To stay within tax-exempt limits, owners split their profits among second and third-group FOPs registered in the names of relatives or associates.

Illegal Content and Crypto Payments

• Systematic promotion of unlicensed online casinos operating illegally in Ukraine.
• Posting vacancies for suspicious "call centers" involved in fraudulent activities.
• Heavy reliance on cryptocurrency transactions to mask the true scale of income.

BEB officials emphasized that they are analyzing the entire volume of financial transactions, including potential political ties. The gathered evidence has been forwarded to the tax authorities and other law enforcement agencies for further action.