More than two hundred residents from Primorye and several other regions across Russia reported to the police that they had fallen victim to scams tied to buying Japanese cars at auction. The Primorsky Territory Interior Ministry confirmed these complaints, noting that the scale of the fraud had prompted officials to take coordinated action to protect consumers and investigate the schemes in detail.
Subsequently, authorities decided to merge all cases filed under sections 3 and 4 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which address Fraud, into a single comprehensive proceeding. This consolidation reflected the interconnected nature of the schemes and the need for a unified legal approach to pursue the perpetrators and secure restitution for victims.
Investigators found that fraudsters advertised online about the possibility of delivering vehicles from Japan at prices well below typical market rates. In Vladivostok and Nakhodka, they established a branching network that lured buyers into binding contracts. The documents circulated by the suspects listed the bank details of front persons and clearly indicated that an advance payment was required. The contracts also stated that money would not be returned if the transaction was canceled. As cars arrived, buyers discovered they had not received the models they expected or the prices differed markedly from the promises made online. In some instances the vehicles lacked proper documentation, leaving purchasers with unsatisfactory assets and little recourse. Buyers faced a stark choice: proceed with a purchase on terms that seemed favorable at first glance or walk away with the loss of both money and time, often ending up empty-handed.
The investigation led detectives to the 34-year-old organizer of the criminal scheme. A thorough search of the suspect’s apartment and six corporate offices yielded a substantial collection of evidence, including cell phones, electronic media, and various documents that supported the fraud charges. The review of these materials helped map the full scope of the operation and identify other individuals who participated in the scheme. The criminal inquiry is continuing as authorities work to bring all responsible parties to account and to determine the total financial impact on victims.
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