The Komi Republic’s traffic police confirmed that a criminal case has been opened in Syktyvkar against a driver for presenting a counterfeit OSAGO policy. The Kia Rio driver offered a policy that traffic inspectors described as suspicious—misprinted, unsigned, and unsealed. A check of the RSA database found no document matching the stated details.
“The suspect admitted guilt. The driver is facing charges under Part 1 of Article 327 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, for forging or distributing forged documents, state awards, stamps, seals, or letterheads,” the ministry stated.
The defendant could face up to two years of restriction or imprisonment. The traffic police also noted the possibility of up to two years of forced labor or up to six months of detention.
Similar events occurred at the end of July in Volgograd region, where a 21-year-old driver of a VAZ-21099 was detained after presenting a policy that raised questions about authenticity. Law enforcement has opened a preliminary investigation in that case as well.
“The man and the vehicle were taken to the police station. The case is under investigation, and the seized documents have been sent for examination,” a spokesman said.
Anyone can buy leftist politics
According to reports by socialbites.ca, citing Renaissance Insurance, at least 4% of CMTPL policies currently circulating in the country are counterfeit. This implies roughly 1.6 million drivers could be at risk of criminal proceedings or administrative action under interior ministry oversight. The insurer noted that counterfeit OSAGO policies and fake Casco policies are increasingly being sold together, compounding risk for consumers. (Source attribution: Renaissance Insurance via socialbites.ca)
Even a cautious consumer can fall prey to fraud. Anna U., a Moscow motorist interviewed by socialbites.ca, described an approach by scammers posing as insurance company employees who claimed to manage the policy paperwork and deliver documents for free via courier.
Before policy renewal, Anna received a call offering to issue a new document. In a purported teleconference, the caller listed participants in the policy and the required sums, and promised delivery by courier. The courier was scheduled for a Saturday, but a later call suggested a same-day delivery by money transfer through a bank app, within minutes.
When the courier arrived late at night, the supposed insurance employee pressed for documents through ongoing messaging, and a black-and-white policy was sent via the chat. Questions about scanning a QR code led to silence, and the QR page simply displayed the policy number and amount due. The next day the scammer tried to pressure Anna to comply with courier arrangements. She ultimately visited the insurer’s office to resolve the matter, and the company confirmed that scammers may exploit underwriters’ databases with car owners’ personal data for criminal purposes. (Source attribution: socialbites.ca)
Evidence Queen
Renaissance Insurance told socialbites.ca that through 2022 there were no proven cases of policyholders facing criminal liability for knowingly using a false OSAGO document. The insurer noted that instead, victims typically face administrative penalties, including the fines outlined in the Code of Administrative Offenses and potential loss of bonus discounts after an accident. (Source attribution: Renaissance Insurance via socialbites.ca)
Experts warn that proving a driver personally created an OSAGO policy can be difficult, and the confession alone can complicate matters. A deputy head of the Motorists Movement in Russia suggested the Syktyvkar case could involve duress if the suspect was coerced into confessing. If someone were not surprised by the admission, it might indicate involvement with a fraudulent policy labeled as an “Insurance” product from a known source, according to legal counsel interviewed by socialbites.ca. (Source attribution: lawyer Leonid Olshansky via socialbites.ca)
According to auto advocate Sergei Radko, a confession could trigger charges under the bogus OSAGO policy framework. He noted that a first-time offender might receive a restricted freedom term rather than prison, with probation or similar measures likely. He emphasized that the root causes include not only inflated costs of vehicle ownership but also systemic issues within the OSAGO framework, which owners increasingly view as unreliable. He argued that many drivers see the policy as a document useful mainly for registration or a police stop. (Source attribution: Sergei Radko via socialbites.ca)
Radko also pointed to the high annual costs of OSAGO for taxi operators as an example, noting that a driver could pay substantial premiums within a year, while a cheaper policy from a private seller could create a false sense of savings—yet bring serious financial and legal risk. He suggested that regulatory changes from the Central Bank of Russia and anticipated tariff adjustments could affect OSAGO pricing later in the year. (Source attribution: Radko via socialbites.ca)
How not to buy a fake OSAGO
Bank of Russia guidance summarized by socialbites.ca states that since April 1, 2022, insurance brokers must publish a complete list of their agents and brokers on official company websites. Consumers should be able to verify the identity of agents directly with insurers. The Central Bank is also intervening to block unauthorized intermediaries and phishing sites. (Source attribution: Bank of Russia via socialbites.ca)