In the Ivanovo region, law enforcement officials detained two women suspected of pilfering money and gold jewelry from a local resident, after the alleged act of repairing the damage was presented to the authorities. According to the press office of the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the arrests took place in the vicinity of Komsomolsk, underscoring the ongoing focus on financial fraud in the area.
The incidents began when the victim reported that two women visited his home and attempted to convince him that he had been cursed. The alleged fraudsters claimed the victim’s date of death, presenting a ritualized sequence intended to dispel misfortune. They asserted that cleansing the effects of a black accumulated workload from money and jewelry could only be achieved through a purification rite carried out at the victim’s expense. The interaction slowly steered the conversation toward surrendering control of cash and precious items to the scammers, who offered to correct the supposed damage afterwards.
As a result of the manipulation, the victim surrendered more than 200 thousand rubles in cash and jewelry to the two suspects. After obtaining the goods, the women fled the scene with promises to “repair the damage” at a later time, veering toward concealment and evasion rather than restitution. The case illustrates how deception can be framed as spiritual or ritual practice when financial incentives are involved, and it highlights the vulnerability of residents to fear-based manipulation.
In a subsequent development, one of the defendants was apprehended within the Ivanovo region, while the second was located in Rybinsk. Both women have prior records for fraud and theft, indicating a possible pattern of criminal behavior that extends beyond a single incident. Local authorities are continuing to investigate the connections and corroborating evidence, including the timeline of visits, the specific items taken, and the methods used to persuade the victim. The pursuit underscores the importance of reporting suspicious solicitations and seeking verification from trusted sources before engaging with unknown visitors at home, especially when financial assets or valuables are involved. The case has been referenced by regional law enforcement as part of a broader effort to combat financial fraud and to educate the public about signs of exploitation (Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs).
The authorities also noted a related prior case involving a different family member, where a husband in Moscow reported that his spouse had provided 100 thousand rubles to lift a supposed love spell. This additional story is cited to illustrate how various fraudulent schemes exploit personal relationships and emotional vulnerabilities, often weaving narratives of protection, blessing, or spiritual cleansing to rationalize requests for money. Experts emphasize that victims may feel compelled to comply in order to remove perceived threats, and they urge the public to verify claims with credible sources rather than acting on fear-based assurances. Guidance from investigators stresses that legitimate financial or legal concerns do not require payment in advance or ritual procedures, and that authorities should be contacted directly when unusual requests arise (Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs).