Over a six month period, a pensioner from Moscow became the target of a sophisticated fraud that drained savings and led to the sale of two apartments. The victim, left homeless and forced to stay with friends, relied on reports from the Telegram channel Baza for the full details.
The con began in early spring 2023 when an unnamed caller claimed to be an officer from the FSB. The impersonator alleged that a loan had been approved in the retiree’s name and urged the victim to apply for a loan as a way to secure his funds. The caller instructed the pensioner to transfer money to a supposed safe account, planting the seed of financial loss at the outset.
Shortly after, a supposed representative from the Central Bank reached out. What followed was a gradual, relentless pressure tactic. For six months, the scammers moved from small, easily reversible sums to larger demands. They fabricated a story about unidentified criminals attempting to seize the retiree’s assets and insisted that two of his apartments must be sold immediately. Any proceeds from these sales were redirected into the scammers’ accounts, deepening the victim’s financial vulnerability.
Ultimately the pensioner surrendered all of his savings, amounting to 12 million rubles, along with the money from the sale of the property, to the fraudsters. Once the criminals cut off contact, the victim turned to the police for help. The loss left the survivor without a home and reliant on friends for shelter. A criminal case was opened as authorities began their investigation.
Earlier reports note a similar pattern in Saratov, where a pensioner was pressured into selling his apartment and handing over the proceeds to scammers. The repeated theme across cases underscores how quickly trusted institutions can be used to manipulate victims into dangerous financial decisions.
Experts warn that legitimate financial officials never require immediate transfers or the sale of assets to protect funds. Red flags include unsolicited calls that demand rapid action, pressure to disclose personal data, and instructions to move money to unfamiliar accounts. In these schemes, the supposed authority figures create a false sense of urgency and isolation, making it harder for the victim to consult family, friends, or legal counsel. Victims are advised to verify any suspicious contact through official channels and to pause on any irreversible financial moves until a trusted adviser is consulted. Law enforcement urges reporting such threats as soon as they arise, so investigators can intervene before more damage occurs.