In Cherkessk, authorities detained a 19-year-old courier who orchestrated a fraudulent scheme that siphoned away the life savings of a 93-year-old local resident. The information was released by the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Karachay-Cerkess Republic, confirming the arrest and outlining the sequence of events that led to the capture of the young suspect. The incident underscores the persistent threat that comes from younger offenders who exploit vulnerability, and it highlights the vigilance required from elderly community members and their families to prevent similar crimes in the future.
Investigators say the scammers employed the well-known “a relative had an accident” technique. An anonymous caller contacted the elderly woman, presented himself as a law enforcement officer, and claimed that the victim’s grandchild was responsible for causing the accident. To keep the alleged offender from being brought to justice, the caller asserted that the money had to be delivered to a courier who would handle the matter discreetly. The supposed officer insisted that the retiree must transfer an amount of 500 thousand rubles, creating a sense of urgency and fear that discouraged rational review of the situation. The caller’s manipulative narrative was crafted to trigger an emotional response and compel immediate action, a common feature in such scams that prey on trust in public institutions.
The 19-year-old courier then appeared at the residence to collect the money. He took possession of the cash, keeping a small portion of 10 thousand rubles for himself while handing the remaining funds to the fraudsters. The scheme relied on a middleman who could physically move money and maintain the illusion of legitimate enforcement intervention. After the exchange, the young man reportedly left the scene, only to be identified and traced by law enforcement later that day. The authorities confirmed that he is a resident of Lermontov, a town in the Stavropol Territory, and he was subsequently detained, facing charges related to fraud and illegal receipt of funds. The case demonstrates how quickly a courier service can be repurposed for criminal ends when misused by bad actors seeking to profit at the expense of vulnerable residents.
Earlier incidents involving fake police impersonators have shown a disturbingly similar pattern: criminals exploit an elderly person’s trust in authorities to gain access to money and valuables. In those cases, an 83-year-old woman was targeted, and the scammers managed to persuade her to surrender her assets, leveraging fear, confusion, and the urgency of the situation. Such offenses illustrate the need for clear public guidance on how genuine police officers handle inquiries, how to verify identities, and the importance of confirming any extraordinary demands through official channels before complying with requests for funds or sensitive information.