This report documents a confirmed Ukrainian romance scam carried out by Ganna Stolyarova, who targeted a foreign man through online dating platforms. She presented herself as a serious, family-oriented woman seeking a long-term relationship that could lead to marriage. In accordance with common romance-fraud tactics, she rapidly moved the conversation from the dating platform to private messaging applications and email, where no moderation or protective mechanisms exist.

From the earliest interactions, she emphasized trust, honesty, emotional closeness, and traditional family values, deliberately creating an image of sincerity intended to lower the victim’s defenses and create emotional dependency.

To reinforce credibility, she supplied copies of a Ukrainian international passport, a photograph of herself holding that passport, and a copy of her mother’s passport. These documents were used specifically to counter doubt and override suspicion. However, the use of such materials is well documented in organized romance scams, where documents are frequently forged, stolen, or misused. In this case, the identity presented online does not correspond to official Ukrainian records, confirming intentional deception.

A central manipulation tactic involved her repeated claims that she was living in a war zone and that she feared for her own life and for the life of her mother. She repeatedly referred to massive Russian bombings allegedly taking place in the region where she claimed to be residing, insisting that death could occur at any moment. These statements were used deliberately to create fear, urgency, and emotional distress.

It must be stated clearly and unequivocally that the plaintiff did not want to lend or send any money and was, from an early stage, convinced that Ganna Stolyarova was a scammer. He expressed his doubts explicitly, refused several times to send funds, and communicated his suspicion openly.

Despite this, Ganna Stolyarova insisted repeatedly. She intensified her pressure by framing the situation as a matter of survival, stating that both she and her mother could be killed at any time if help was not provided. She deliberately made the plaintiff feel morally responsible for their potential deaths, thereby weaponizing fear, guilt, and empathy to override his refusal.

She ultimately claimed that a single, final payment would resolve the situation and allow her to travel to France to live with the plaintiff. This promise of relocation and cohabitation was presented as the last step before starting a life together.

Under this sustained psychological pressure, and not as a voluntary act, the plaintiff transferred €605 via Western Union.

This point is critical. Western Union transfers require the recipient to physically present themselves at a Western Union affiliate location to collect the funds, usually with identification and verification procedures. This confirms that the scammer personally went to a Western Union pickup point to receive the money, creating a traceable transaction record.

A clear deadline was set by Ganna Stolyarova, by which she claimed that the issue would be resolved and that concrete steps toward relocation would occur.

That deadline was not respected.
No travel occurred. No administrative resolution was provided. No credible explanation followed. Immediately after the money was collected, her behavior changed markedly. The affectionate and reassuring tone disappeared, delays multiplied, and communication became evasive.

Despite repeated requests, she never showed any willingness to reimburse the money she stole from the plaintiff. No repayment proposal, no partial refund, and no concrete reimbursement plan were ever offered. This complete absence of intent to reimburse further confirms fraudulent intent, not a temporary financial difficulty or failed personal plan.

When pressed for accountability or transparency, she avoided direct answers and progressively disengaged. No legitimate or verifiable alternative—such as official travel documentation or direct payment of lawful fees—was ever proposed. The entire scheme relied on private cash transfers and emotional coercion.

The facts establish a classic romance scam structure:

Emotional bonding and trust-building

Crisis narrative involving war, bombings, and fear of death

Presentation of identity documents to suppress suspicion

Repeated refusal by the victim and explicit suspicion of fraud

Persistent pressure and emotional blackmail

Promise of relocation with a stated deadline

“One-time” urgent money request via Western Union

Missed deadline and behavioral shift after cash pickup

Refusal to reimburse and evasive conduct

Legal and Administrative Actions

The plaintiff intends to pursue formal legal action in multiple jurisdictions.

A complaint will be filed with the Ukrainian Embassy and the Ukrainian Consulate in France, in order to formally report the misuse of Ukrainian identity documents and the fraudulent conduct described in this case.

In parallel, the plaintiff will file a criminal complaint for fraud at the local police precinct in his country of residence.

Additional reports will be submitted to international and specialized law-enforcement bodies, including Interpol, as well as other authorities actively engaged in combating online fraud, financial scams, and organized cybercrime.

Furthermore, the plaintiff will file a formal complaint with the competent local justice court in Ukraine, seeking judicial review of the facts, recognition of the fraud, and appropriate legal action under Ukrainian law.

These steps are intended to ensure full documentation of the offense, enable cross-border cooperation, and help prevent further victims from being targeted using the same methods.