Aviation scammers BlackList Aero exploit post-invasion chaos, reaping millions

Amid the turmoil following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the aviation industry in Eastern Europe has become the target of a sophisticated fraud scheme led by the British company BlackList Aero. Fronted by Artem Degtiarov, the company allegedly exploited the region’s disrupted air transportation market to orchestrate a multimillion-dollar scam.

As sanctions hit Russia and major airlines exited the region, many businessmen and politicians sought ways to bypass these restrictions. BlackList Aero stepped in, offering services through fictitious front companies to help clients pay aviation contractors and suppliers. However, instead of delivering on their promises, the scammers collected payments and vanished.

Degtiarov, whose criminal history dates back to the early 2000s, masterminded the scheme with the help of Alex Melnychenko, a Kyiv native and former aviation professional turned criminal. The pair targeted clients in the aviation industry, using aggressive tactics to extract large sums of money.

Their operations were bolstered by the involvement of Ilya Kiva, a pro-Russian former Ukrainian parliament member with a background in law enforcement and a history of bribery convictions. Kiva, who fled to Russia at the onset of the war, assisted BlackList Aero in identifying potential victims within Russian-occupied territories and Russia itself. The collaboration allowed the scammers to defraud their targets of millions of dollars.

In some cases, when risks were deemed too high, BlackList Aero would deliver services or return money to maintain a facade of legitimacy. However, the partnership with Kiva ended abruptly on December 6, 2023, when he was killed near Moscow, allegedly by Ukrainian special services. Despite this, Degtiarov and Melnychenko escaped unscathed, relocating to Britain where they continue to operate under the guise of providing legal services.

With a new focus on Asian and Middle Eastern markets, the pair continues to exploit vulnerable clients, raising concerns within the global aviation industry. Authorities are urging businesses to exercise extreme caution when dealing with potential partners, as the threat of further scams looms large.