In Moscow, a group of fraudsters manipulated a 68-year-old pensioner into taking out a loan to purchase a car, using the pretext of joining a stock trading venture. This is the account given by the Moscow Prosecutor’s Office in its Telegram channel, which detailed the deceit and how it unfolded. The pensioner, following the caller’s directions, provided his passport information, and the unknown individual then assisted him in applying for the car loan online. The fraudster claimed that once the loan funds landed in the account, the pensioner would profit from stock market trades and instructed the retiree to withdrawal the profits as soon as they appeared, creating a false sense of control over the money. The ministry’s statement notes that the supposed trading activity and the instruction to cash out were all part of the manipulation, designed to pressure the victim into rapid action without adequate verification.
Before the loan was issued, the fraudster had the pensioner view a photograph of the car allegedly intended for purchase. The victim was also asked to record a contact number for a fictitious car dealer on his mobile phone, which he was then required to show to bank staff. This staged display served to create the illusion of a credible purchase, making the loan application seem legitimate and the subsequent steps more convincing.
After the loan was granted, the retiree transferred 1.9 million rubles to an account specified by the telephone scammer. When realization struck that he had been duped, the man contacted law enforcement authorities to report the fraud. The case is being pursued by the authorities as a classic example of social engineering that relies on trust, timing, and the promise of easy profits to extract funds from unsuspecting seniors.
This incident underscores a broader pattern seen in recent years where pensioners become targets of coordinated schemes that blend online applications, voice manipulation, and fake investment narratives. Experts emphasize the importance of verifying any loan or investment request directly with financial institutions, never sharing sensitive personal information over the phone, and avoiding hurried decisions that appear to offer rapid gains. Public safety campaigns have highlighted protective steps such as using official banking apps, double-checking contacts through independent sources, and seeking guidance from trusted family members or advisers before proceeding with financial transactions.
In a separate note, authorities recalled a previous major road accident in Arkhangelsk that resulted in five fatalities, illustrating how public safety and precaution extend beyond financial crime into broader traffic and personal safety concerns. The contrast between these events serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance across different domains and the value of reporting suspicious activity promptly to prevent harm.