In Nizhny Novgorod, a Moscow region office worker became entangled in a troubling fraud case after he contacted a sex worker via an online advertisement and did not proceed with her services. He later transferred a substantial sum to his alleged pimp, who subsequently fell victim to scammers. The sequence of events was shared on a Telegram channel, reported by Shot.
The incident began when a 46-year-old man from the Moscow region was on a business trip to Nizhny Novgorod. He noticed an advertisement offering sexual services, which prompted him to invite the sex worker to his hotel room. Shortly after arriving, the woman was hesitant to enter the room, and the man found himself alone with the unexpected and tense moment of a police presence outside the building. The sex worker left, and the man continued on with his stay as if nothing had happened. The episode raised questions about risk and safety in travel where professional companionship is involved. The core fact remained that contact had been made and plans had changed in a way that would later illuminate a much larger problem.
A few days after returning home, the man received a call from an unidentified person claiming that the hotel arrangement had lasted for three days and that the bill had not been paid. The caller instructed him to transfer 55,000 rubles to a specified account. The man complied. Shortly after, the same voice contacted him again, insisting that the transfer had been made incorrectly and urging him to send another 55,000 rubles. Over the course of multiple calls, the amount gradually accumulated. The man was told that the money had not arrived and that additional sums were needed to settle the supposed debt. Alarm bells finally rang, and he realized he had become the target of a fraud scheme. He reported the crime to local police as soon as he understood the extent of the deception and his financial loss.
There were earlier reports of a separate incident in the Moscow region where a student attempted to arrange sex work and ended up losing around 200,000 rubles. These cases underscore a pattern in which scammers exploit expectations of discreet services and use persistent pressure to extract money from unsuspecting individuals. The pattern often starts with a casual inquiry or a flirtatious approach and quickly escalates into a series of manipulative calls and staged scenarios designed to create urgency and doubt. Law enforcement agencies emphasize that in situations involving paid companionship or personal services, individuals should exercise caution, verify identities through official channels, avoid sharing sensitive information, and refrain from sending money to unfamiliar accounts. The guidance is especially pertinent for travelers who may be isolated or placed in unfamiliar environments where such schemes can feel more convincing. Victims are urged to document all communications, report the behavior promptly, and seek support from trusted contacts.
Experts advise that the safest course is to avoid engaging with offers that appear too good to be true or demand rapid payments without verifiable guarantees. In cases where a potential transaction involves travel or a hotel stay, it is prudent to confirm hotel bookings directly through the establishment and to use secure, traceable payment methods. People should remain skeptical of unsolicited calls that request transfers to personal accounts or promise fast payouts in exchange for secrecy. The emphasis placed by authorities is on transparency, verification, and timely reporting to prevent further financial damage and to assist investigations. The growing awareness about these schemes aims to reduce the likelihood that others will fall prey to similar tactics, especially when online advertisements and private messages blur the lines between personal desire and financial risk.