Everything you need to know about illegal actions with transfer documents and payment cards

With the development of online banking and electronic payments, the number of crimes in the financial sector has risen sharply. Every day, there are cases of forgery of payment orders, receipts, bank cards, or electronic wallets. Such actions are regulated by Article 200 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — “Illegal actions with documents for transfer, payment cards, and other means of access to bank accounts, electronic money, and equipment for their manufacture.”

What are transfer documents?

These are any paper or electronic documents used by banks or customers to transfer orders or information for the transfer of funds between entities involved in the transfer of funds

These include:

• payment orders, receipts, checks, statements;
• electronic messages about money transfers or deposits;
• documents for interbank transactions.

Most financial fraud begins with the forgery or illegal use of such documents.

What actions are considered illegal

Article 200 of the Criminal Code covers:

1. Falsification of transfer documents or payment cards — creating fake documents, receipts, or electronic files that imitate genuine ones.
2. Acquisition or storage of forgeries for the purpose of sale — if a person has fake payment documents in order to transfer or sell them to others.
3. Forwarding or selling such documents — even via email or messengers.
4. Illegal use or issuance of electronic money — creation or use of “virtual currencies” not permitted by the NBU.

Punishment

According to Part 1 of Article 200 of the Criminal Code, such actions are punishable by a fine of 3,000 to 5,000 non-taxable minimum incomes (from 51,000 to 85,000 UAH).

According to Part 2 of Article 200 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, if the crime is committed repeatedly or by prior conspiracy by a group of persons, the fine increases from 5,000 to 10,000 non-taxable minimum incomes (from UAH 85,000 to UAH 170,000).

The crime is considered complete from the moment such documents are forged or stored, even if they have not yet been used.

How to protect yourself if you become a victim

Уявіть ситуацію: ви отримали “скріншот” переказу чи фальшиву квитанцію, після чого кошти так і не надійшли. Діяти потрібно негайно.

1. Contact your bank
   – Block your card, change your passwords, log out of all sessions.
   – Request an official statement showing your recent transactions.
2. Record evidence
   – Save screenshots, correspondence, receipts, SMS messages where you were asked to provide bank details or confirmation.
   – If it is electronic correspondence, download it to a separate file or save copies with a timestamp.
3. File a report with the police or cyber police
   – indicate that you suspect forged transfer documents or illegal use of the card;
   – attach all collected materials;
   – request the opening of criminal proceedings under Article 200 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
   Online applications can be submitted via the cyberpolice.gov.ua portal.
4. Consult a lawyer
   – A lawyer will help you draft your statement correctly, accompany you during the investigation, and monitor the legality of the investigators’ actions.
   – If necessary, an IT expert will be brought in to confirm the fact of electronic forgery.

Even attempting to forge a receipt or electronic document is a crime. If the forgery is used to misappropriate someone else’s funds, the offense is also classified under Article 190 of the Criminal Code (fraud).

Such crimes undermine financial stability, create risks for the banking system, and undermine trust in electronic services.

Every case of falsification of payment documents is not a “joke” or a “technical error,” but a criminal offense. Timely contact with the bank, cyber police, and a lawyer is the best way to stop fraudsters and recover your funds.

If you still have questions or have fallen victim to fraudsters, please contact the lawyers at Strategic Advocacy for advice.