In Anapa, a ten-year-old girl reportedly influenced passers-by by claiming that a classmate was pressuring her for money. She allegedly invented a story of being assaulted by a schoolmate and asked strangers for small sums. The funds were said to be needed to buy chips, and the narrative circulated through an official Telegram channel tied to the city’s local authorities. This information was released for public awareness by the Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for Anapa.
By late April 2023, rumors surfaced on social networks about a young student who asked a passerby for a modest amount, around 50 rubles. The account suggested the girl convinced the man that she had been beaten and that her money had been taken, though she later returned some of it. A local observer described the girl as simply dressed and noted that she had provided the name of her school and mentioned that her mother had died and her father worked at a factory.
Investigators determined that the child, at age ten, had used her pocket money and was seeking a justification for her actions. She approached several strangers with similar requests, weaving a tale about a classmate to explain the need for funds. Officials stated that the girl’s family had a solid reputation and was not registered with the police, a factor that influenced their response and assessment of the situation.
Earlier reports from Yekaterinburg described incidents in which youths carried knives or pepper spray and targeted other children for cash. While these cases were separate, they underscored concerns about child safety, social pressures, and how young people navigate stressful circumstances. Authorities stressed the importance of monitoring at-risk behavior and providing appropriate support to families and communities to prevent harm and misunderstanding among children and adults alike.
Experts observe that incidents like these may reflect broader social dynamics, including how children interpret distress signals, how adults respond to unusual requests for money, and how information spreads through social networks. The Anapa case highlights the need for clear information from official channels, careful media reporting, and coordinated efforts among families, schools, and law enforcement to protect children while ensuring questions about safety are answered responsibly. Observers advocate ongoing outreach, age-appropriate guidance on money matters, and accessible resources for children and guardians to discuss fears, rumors, and conflict without resorting to deception or coercion. [attribution: Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for Anapa; corroborating reports from regional authorities and community safety organizations]