Officials from the Internal Affairs Ministry in Kaluga confirmed the detention of a suspected fraudster who targeted men by posing as a sex worker. The case was reported by the district police press office, which noted that local investigators acted on a tip from the public and moved quickly to stop the suspect before further harm could occur.
The incident began when a resident of Kaluga reported that he had been deceived after engaging with a profile on a privacy services site. He explained that he had contacted what he believed was a worker and agreed to invite her to his home. After sending a response to the person’s request, the man provided funds for a taxi to reach the destination and awaited the next steps of the arrangement.
As the scheme unfolded, the victim was instructed to transfer additional money to cover insurance deemed necessary for the trip. Trusting the request, he sent another payment and subsequently lost contact with the individual he thought he was dealing with. The absence of communication after the transfer raised red flags and prompted authorities to investigate the matter further.
Law enforcement identified a 19-year-old suspect from the Saratov region who is believed to have orchestrated at least two similar frauds in this manner. In total, the suspect allegedly earned around 115 thousand rubles through this scheme, exploiting victims through manipulated voice and online profiles crafted with a specialized program to deceive men.
The accused person has signed a voluntary commitment to remain at a designated location while investigators continue the case. He faces a potential prison sentence of up to five years if convicted. The ongoing inquiry aims to determine all victims and connections to similar schemes, ensuring that appropriate charges are brought where warranted. Authorities emphasize that the public should remain vigilant and verify all requests that involve financial transfers or insurance fees tied to online encounters.
News updates indicate that this case is part of broader efforts to crack down on online exploitation and financial fraud schemes that target individuals through deceptive profiles. In related stories, law enforcement has stressed the importance of cautious online interactions, especially when requests for money arise and personal details are shared. Community awareness and timely reporting are crucial to preventing more people from falling prey to such scams, and authorities continue to investigate any additional leads that may link this incident to other cases.
In a separate but related development, a Moscow resident faced legal trouble after stealing his spouse’s car and being found with illegal substances while driving with another woman. This incident underscores the varied nature of offenses that can intersect with online fraud investigations, prompting authorities to pursue all relevant lines of inquiry to protect the public.
[Citation: Kaluga Ministry of Internal Affairs press release and district police report]