A report from Karelia highlights a case where a fraudster, posing as a car service center employee, targeted two vehicle owners who had recently had their cars repaired. The incident was shared through the Ministry of Internal Affairs website, drawing attention to a scheme that exploits trust and the urgent need for replacement parts.
In one instance, a resident of Lakhdenpokhya described receiving a call from someone whose voice suggested familiarity with the local service scene. The caller claimed that the spare parts used for the repair did not fit properly and advised the owner to transfer 37,600 rubles to a designated phone number to obtain replacements. When the owner later checked with the actual service center, it became clear that there was no issue with the parts and no request for additional payment had ever been made by the center itself. The discrepancy between the fake message and the service center’s records underscored the criminal’s deception and the risk of verifying payment requests directly with trusted providers before acting on them.
A second case involved a 21-year-old who had their vehicle serviced in Kostomuksha. Following a call from an unidentified person, the driver complied and sent 6,000 rubles for the work billed. Police investigations revealed that both victims had transferred money to the same phone number, pointing to a coordinated effort by the fraudster rather than isolated incidents. The pattern of using a single payment line, coupled with apparent legitimacy from the caller’s claimed role, illustrates how scammers blend technical jargon with personal pressure to persuade victims to act quickly without corroboration.
The report closes with a curious note about a former traffic police officer in Orel who reportedly pursued a bull that had wandered onto a road. This detail, while seemingly unrelated, adds to the overall narrative about public safety and the broad spectrum of street-level incidents that can intersect with road travel, vehicle maintenance, and the credibility of those who claim to oversee or regulate these activities. It serves as a reminder that vigilance in everyday vehicle maintenance extends beyond mechanical checks and into the realm of ensuring direct, verifiable communication with service providers whenever financial transactions are involved.