More than two hundred residents of Primorye and other regions of Russia turned to police, who reported that they had been victims of scams buying Japanese cars at auctions, Russia’s Interior Ministry for the Primorsky Territory informs.
Later, all cases brought under sections 3 and 4 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Fraud”) were merged into one proceeding.
Fraudsters placed advertisements on the Internet about the delivery of vehicles from Japan at prices significantly below market prices. In the cities of Vladivostok and Nakhodka, a network of branches was organized where unsuspecting buyers entered into contracts. The documents listed the bank details of front persons and also made it clear that an advance payment had to be made. It was stipulated that in case of refusal of the transaction, the money will not be returned. When the cars arrived, buyers realized that this was not what they ordered, or that the cost was different from what they expected. Some cars didn’t even have accompanying documents. But the buyers had to agree, because they were left without a car and without money.
The police managed to track down the 34-year-old organizer of the criminal plan. During a search of his apartment and six corporate offices, police seized cell phones, electronic media, as well as other items and documents. The criminal investigation is underway.
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