Ukrainian National Extradited For Role In International 'Carding' Scheme

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A Ukrainian national has been extradited to the United States from Germany to face federal charges filed in the Western District of North Carolina, for his alleged involvement in an international "carding" scheme that netted over $1.8 million in fraudulent credit and debit card charges, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins U.S. Attorney King in making the announcement.

Viacheslav Alexandrovich Basovych, 49, of Ukraine, was arrested in Germany on December 19, 2023, and was extradited to the United States on August 8, 2024. Basovych is charged with wire fraud conspiracy, access device fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Charlotte, following Basovych's initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge W. Carleton Metcalf.

According to allegations in the indictment, from October 2013 to February 2022, Basovych conspired with others to engage in an international "carding" scheme. The term "carding" refers to various criminal activities associated with stealing personal identifiable information (PII) and financial information of victims, including information associated with credit cards, bank cards, debit cards, or other access devices, and using that information to obtain money, goods or services without the victims' authorization or consent.

The indictment alleges that Basovych and his co-conspirators obtained the PII and payment card information of victims and used the stolen information to make unauthorized credit and debit card charges by merchant accounts associated with Basovych. The fraudulent charges ranged between $7 to $15, and were thus more likely to go unnoticed. In this manner, it is alleged that Basovych and his co-conspirators caused over 148,000 fraudulent transactions totaling over $1.8 million in unauthorized charges. It is further alleged that over 5,100 fraudulent charges were made using payment cards of victims located in Charlotte. According to allegations in the indictment, Basovych and his co-conspirators used a network of money mules to launder the criminal proceeds and to evade detection.

"Greed knows no bounds, but justice has no borders," said U.S. Attorney King. "The charges announced today are the result of a coordinated effort with our law enforcement partners to identify and bring to justice cyber criminals that exploit victims' stolen identities and financial information for their personal gain. Whether the perpetrators are on U.S. soil or abroad, we will pursue all investigative avenues and use all enforcement tools available to bring to justice those who engage in this type of criminal activity."

"The world today doesn't permit us to physically lock our identities away in a safe. Unfortunately, this vulnerability has given cyber criminals the opportunity to exploit and profit from stolen identities. The FBI is committed to ensuring that international cyber criminals do not operate with impunity," said Special Agent in Charge DeWitt.

Following his initial appearance, Basovych was remanded into federal custody.

The wire fraud conspiracy charge and the charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The charge of access device fraud carries a statutory maximum prison sentence of 10 years.

The charges in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

In making today's announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the FBI's Charlotte Field Office for the investigation that led to the charges. U.S. Attorney King also thanked the INTERPOL Offices in Wiesbaden, Germany, and Washington, D.C., for their substantial assistance, and the Department of Justice's Office of International Affairs for securing Basovych's arrest and extradition.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Billings of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.