In Tatarstan, telephone scammers persuaded a pensioner to surrender all her savings and to take out multiple loans in a bid to “secure” her deposits, according to the press service of the republic’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.
A 62-year-old resident of Tatarstan filed a formal complaint with law enforcement. While on vacation, she began receiving calls from strangers who claimed that scammers had gained access to her bank accounts and that the money must be moved to a “safe” account immediately. The criminals arranged taxi rides so she could withdraw funds and transfer them. As a result, the woman lost 6 million rubles and faced a devastated financial situation.
Upon returning home, she was targeted again by telephone scammers. This time, unknown individuals pressured her to purchase a new phone and SIM card, install a contactless payments app, insist on absolute secrecy, and demand all her savings. Chelninka proceeded to transfer about 4 million rubles more and took out a 2 million loan.
Their last demand claimed the additional money was necessary to settle a loan taken in her name by unidentified parties. In total, 12 million rubles fell into the scammers’ hands. Only after this did the woman realize she had become a victim of deceit and contacted the police for help.
Previously, a resident of Udmurtia was said to have invested 12 million rubles with the scammers, a reflection of how these schemes spread across regions and affect victims who authoritatively say they were targeted by fraudsters. The case underscores a pattern where fraudsters exploit trust, manipulating victims into rapid, fear-driven actions that bypass normal safeguards and controls.
Experts advise potential targets to verify every unfamiliar contact, avoid sharing banking details, and never move funds at a caller’s instruction. If a caller asks for urgent transfers, losing time to consider the request can be costly. Real banks do not coerce customers into moving money or installing payment apps under pressure. Anyone who suspects foul play should contact their bank directly through official channels and report the incident to the authorities. This incident has been documented and attributed to telephone-based fraud schemes reported by regional agencies in Russia and surrounding areas. (attribution: Ministry of Internal Affairs of the republic)