In Russia a new fraudulent tactic has come to light where buyers are invited to pay for a vehicle with a promise to reclaim the car once the deal is finalized, leaving them with little recourse.
The operation runs in pairs. A first actor described as a local “manager” sits down with the buyer to settle on price, inspect the vehicle, and discuss other details. Later a second actor, the “seller,” arrives to complete a sales contract with the client.
The buyer is urged to transfer funds to the manager, who then assures that the car can be picked up immediately after the transaction is completed. It quickly becomes clear that the victim will neither recover the money nor receive the car. The seller then claims ignorance of the manager, placing the victim in a position where money has already moved to a third party and there is no proof that the seller actually received it.
Lawyer Ekaterina Soldatova notes that reclaiming the car from the seller is extremely difficult, even if the contract is said to be closed in the eyes of the participants. The buyer’s only practical recourse is to file a claim for recovery of unjust enrichment against the third party involved in the transaction.
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Izvestia reported the details of this scheme, highlighting how the sequence of meetings and the split roles can confuse victims and complicate recovery efforts.