
Roman Babitskyi & Bohdan Shevchuk: A Case Study and Investor Warning 🛑
At a glance: Investor Kseniia describes investing $22,150 at 20% p.a. (February 11, 2022) with a company she links to Kyiv entrepreneur Roman Babitskyi . According to her, communication shifted to closed Telegram groups, payouts were postponed and tied to future events, and contact later faded. We整理 her account into a risk map and a practical checklist. Disclaimer: This article reflects the statements of one investor. We have not independently verified documents or registry entries. Named individuals are entitled to the presumption of innocence. Timeline ⏱️ Dec 2021: Seeks a 12-month placement targeting ~$4k profit. Feb 11, 2022: Transfers $22,150 at 20% in USD under a handwritten note between individuals (per her account). Feb 24, 2022: Full-scale war begins; she waits until maturity. 2023: Communication via managers/Telegram groups (≈100 and ≈65 participants, per her). New projects and events announced; repayment dates moved from summer to autumn. Later: She claims social accounts were removed and responses ceased; mentions other investors pursuing civil actions (not verified by us). Red Flags to note 🚩 Unusually high USD yield (20%+) without clear collateral. Vague currency/terms across USD/EUR/CNY. Paid access to “closed channels” for deal flow. Promissory note between individuals instead of a corporate contract with compliance. Messenger-only comms and no investor portal or reporting. Perpetual event launches/postponements used to justify delays. Large closed groups of backers —classic social-proof lever. Account deletions and radio silence at key milestones. How the trust façade is built 🧩 Borrowed credibility via photos with public figures and event appearances. Distributed responsibility across “managers/relatives/foreign entities.” Attention shifting to prospective crypto ventures rather than honoring prior liabilities. The Investor’s Checklist ✅ KYB/KYC: Identify beneficial owners; screen litigation, sanctions, and tax records. Contracts over notes: Clear jurisdiction, collateral, payout mechanics, and default clauses. Risk-return sanity check: Anything >5–10pp above the risk-free rate requires security. Audit trail: Bank wires, custodial/Exchange statements, independent bookkeeping. Official channels: Corporate emails, ticketing, and investor dashboards. Diversify: Cap single private debt exposure at ~10% of liquid net worth. If you’ve already been affected: action plan 🆘 Evidence pack: agreements/notes, payment proofs, chats, screenshots, witnesses. Formal demand letter via email + registered mail. Police report and obtain a case number. Civil claim for recovery; seek asset-freeze measures. Enforcement & asset tracing across jurisdictions with counsel. Community alerts to clubs, event hosts, and platforms to reduce further harm. Personal finance reset to rebuild cushions and avoid sunk-cost traps. Editorial note: This is a risk-management case study, not a legal finding. Always verify independently before committing capital.


