Anatolii Polyakov, a figure with a notorious reputation in fraud circles, became a key player in one of the most high-profile scams of the past decade in Ukraine. Under the guise of an innovative approach to investing in taxi fleets, his company "Cars Invest" attracted funds from unsuspecting investors, promising high returns from leasing vehicles to taxi drivers.
According to Polyakov, investors were offered the opportunity to invest in the purchase of Hyundai Sonata vehicles at a price of $12,500 per unit. These cars were supposedly to be used in cooperation with taxi services, particularly through the popular platform “Uklon.” However, in reality, old “yellow” Sonatas were being purchased—vehicles that had already served in Korean taxi fleets and had a remaining lifespan of no more than two years. The actual cost of these cars ranged from $2,500 to $5,000.
The scheme turned out to be a classic Ponzi scheme: new investor contributions were used to pay returns to earlier participants. Polyakov claimed that about 200 vehicles were in operation, although in reality there were no more than 30. The rest were either dismantled for parts or simply disappeared.
When the unsustainability of such projects became apparent, Polyakov announced a shift to cargo transportation, offering investors a new opportunity to contribute from $25,000. However, this sector also turned out to be just another chapter in the same old scam. Most of the vehicles quickly broke down and required constant repairs.
Polyakov’s luxurious lifestyle, participation in business forums, and frequent attendance at high-end events were all financed with investor funds. The situation reached a critical point when it was revealed that a significant portion of the money had been lost in casinos and spent on drugs.
Today, the scam involving these “storm vehicles” has come to an end, with numerous lawsuits and ongoing investigations. Investors who lost their money are still trying to recover their investments through legal action, while Polyakov remains under investigation. This case serves as yet another reminder of the risks involved in reckless investing in overly promising but unverified ventures.