In Moscow, a troubling scam unfolded as fraudsters peddled counterfeit lottery tickets and lured hopeful buyers with the promise of a brand-new car. The reports came through the Telegram channel Baza, which highlighted the elaborate deception and the financial harm suffered by victims.
Among those targeted was Abdulakim, who watched a drive-in lottery advertisement on YouTube. The enticing prize was a Russian-made car. A phone number appeared in the ad, and Abdulakim connected with a person identified as Parviz. Parviz claimed that to secure a win, Abdulakim would need to purchase 200 so-called lottery tickets for roughly 600,000 rubles. The pitch was persuasive, and Abdulakim began to buy the tickets with growing optimism. Source: Baza Telegram.
As weeks turned into months, the promised prize never materialized. The car remained elusive, and Parviz stopped answering calls. The sense of manipulation grew sharper as the advertising campaign seemed to vanish from view. Abdulakim was not alone in this plight; police later confirmed that at least four other individuals had fallen prey to similar schemes. Investigators opened inquiries to determine the scope of the operation and identify those responsible. Source: Baza Telegram.
In another line of the investigation, an unidentified person in Tomsk leaned out of a Nissan and brandished an object resembling a Kalashnikov-style rifle. Authorities released a video showing a passenger with an object that appeared to be a firearm, prompting inquiries into the driver’s involvement and the vehicle’s role in the incident. Tomsk police confirmed the existence of the footage and noted that a thorough check of both the driver and the passenger was underway to reach a lawful determination. Source: Baza Telegram.
The broader circumstances suggested a coordinated approach to intimidation and potential fraud, with law enforcement working to piece together the sequence of events and determine whether the actions were connected to the lottery scam or represented separate criminal activity. The investigation sought to establish timelines, identify all participants, and assess any risks to public safety as the cases unfolded. Source: Baza Telegram.
Meanwhile, in Sochi, reports described a separate incident in which a man assaulted the driver of a Zhiguli vehicle by striking it with a torn barrier. The incident added to concerns about violence linked to disputes or protests, raising questions about the underlying motives and the parties involved. Police and witnesses were cooperating to reconstruct what happened and to determine whether the altercation was connected to other criminal activity in the area. Source: Baza Telegram.