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.