Fraudsters have flooded the illegal market with offers aimed at residents of the CIS countries who want a Ukrainian passport, promising unlimited travel and a new way to move around the world. This is the finding of a recent investigation conducted by Fontanka, which conducted its own research to verify the claims.
The report notes that in the past the most common fake documents were Russian internal passports, driver’s licenses, and university diplomas. Yet there has been a shifting trend. More and more fraudsters now promote documents that appear to come from Ukraine, tapping on the demand for legitimate identity papers and the convenience of easier border crossing and verification processes.
Under Russian law, forging documents carries a prison sentence of up to three years for both the creators and the users, highlighting that these scams pose real legal risks for anyone participating in them.
Fontanka’s investigation suggests that a substantial share of the offers for Ukrainian documents circulating online are, in reality, legitimate legal services for Ukrainian refugees who have lost their papers due to displacement or other hardships. However, within clandestine Telegram channels and some public pages on social networks like Facebook, scammers continue to operate, attempting to sell fake documents to unsuspecting buyers.
One example described in the report details how a counterfeit passport is supposedly produced from genuine forms. Data would be entered into a state registry through linked systems, and buyers would also receive a taxpayer identification number and a birth certificate that are registered in the appropriate government records. The passport is claimed to be created with a perforated printer and includes all necessary stamps, making it look like an authentic document ready for use.
Other schemes involve selling birth certificates with the offer of a biometric passport for seamless travel. Some vendors even peddle blank Ukrainian internal passports described as completely clean and featuring original watermarks, available for around 2,500 dollars without any filling of the form, a combination that would allow the buyer to complete the paperwork later under the radar.
These sellers often use a façade of providing legal assistance or document preparation, masking their true intent as fraudsters seeking to profit from vulnerable individuals—especially those who need documentation quickly due to displacement or other pressures.
The investigation also touches on the broader human impact, noting concerns raised about Ukrainians who feel unfairly treated by international systems. In particular, there have been reports of complaints about how the European Union handles child-related cases, with some families feeling marginalized in the process of securing residency or travel documents for their children. This aspect underlines the complexity and emotional weight of identity documentation in a geopolitical context.
Experts urge caution for anyone considering acquiring documentary papers through informal channels. Even when proposals appear legitimate, the risks are significant: legal penalties if caught, the possibility of losing access to essential services, and the potential for long-term complications with travel and identification in multiple jurisdictions. The most prudent path remains pursuing recognized legal avenues and consulting qualified professionals bound by local regulations to assist refugees and other individuals in legitimate needs for documentation.
Overall, the Fontanka report underscores how scammers adapt to demand, exploiting fears of borderlessness and the ease of acquiring digital and printed documents. It also highlights the ongoing tension between humanitarian needs and criminal exploitation, reminding readers that the integrity of identity systems depends on careful verification and lawful procedures. The discussion emphasizes that while some services marketed as help for those in distress may be legitimate, a careful, cautious approach is essential to avoid becoming prey to fraudsters who promise quick solutions but deliver serious consequences for those who trust them.