In Tyumen, law enforcement officials detained a group of fraudsters who deceived online smartphone sellers, pulling in losses of about 400 thousand rubles. The case illustrates a troubling pattern where criminals exploit digital marketplaces and payment automation to inflate their profits.
Investigators say the suspects targeted listings for high‑end smartphones posted on the internet. They used the Secure Transaction service to place purchases and collected advance payments. Once the products were dispatched, the thieves swapped them for counterfeit items and fabricated reasons to avoid finalizing a sale. Meanwhile, they kept the upfront money and proceeded to resell authentic devices, each valued around one hundred thousand rubles, to other buyers.
Authorities linked the suspects to four separate episodes of this scheme. There is concern from law enforcement that there could be up to thirty similar offenses connected to the same group, suggesting a broader network at work. A criminal case has been opened under fraud provisions, noting that the crimes were committed by a conspiratorial group. The individuals involved have been taken into custody to await trial.
Earlier reports noted a separate case in which a resident of Omsk assisted scammers in deceiving Tyumen pensioners. This case underscores a wider pattern of online fraud that crosses regional boundaries and targets vulnerable residents through digital platforms. [citation]