A resident of Petrozavodsk found themselves drawn into a troubling scam that resulted in the loss of about 1.5 million rubles after repeatedly accepting aggressive offers to buy shares. Law enforcement authorities have opened a criminal case, and the matter is being actively investigated by the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Karelia.
In January, an elderly person living in the capital of Karelia began receiving calls from unfamiliar individuals who claimed to have a surefire way to earn money. The scammers explained that investing in a variety of shares would generate substantial profits for the pensioner. At first the woman remained cautious, yet the relentless persistence of the callers persuaded her to test their seemingly golden opportunity.
Once the first transfer landed in the scammers’ account, they escalated their performance metrics, loudly proclaiming rapid gains and insisting that the pensioner send steadily increasing sums of money. They also steered the conversation toward using a separate application to simplify ongoing communication and transactions.
By mid-February, after exhausting her savings, the usual manager explained another path to amplify earnings. They proposed taking out a loan to fund additional investments. Realizing that she had been misled for weeks, the pensioner finally paused to reflect on the situation, understood that she had fallen prey to a fraud scheme, and reached out to law enforcement for assistance.
At this stage, investigators have initiated a criminal case focused on large-scale fraud. The financial damage to the Petrozavodsk resident has been estimated at 1,543,000 rubles, highlighting the financial vulnerability that can accompany overly aggressive sales tactics and promises of quick profits.
The department’s press service emphasized a crucial point: legitimate investment platforms warn clients about the risk of losing money and do not lure people in with pressure or pushy sales pitches. This reminder serves to help the public distinguish between genuine opportunities and schemes dressed up as easy money.
The report also notes a prior incident in which a teacher in Abakan borrowed funds and ended up transferring more than 1.3 million rubles to fraudsters, illustrating that vulnerability to scam tactics can affect people from various walks of life.