A young man in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk faces charges of theft tied to a bank account crime that has drawn attention from the regional authorities. The case is being reviewed by the Sakhalin region Regional Ministry of Internal Affairs as part of ongoing investigations into financial fraud and digital security breaches.
Earlier this spring, a 19-year-old resident purchased a mobile phone from a friend on credit for 30,000 rubles. While preparing the sale, the seller left behind a note under the phone’s cover. The note contained a bank password and a woman’s name. It emerged that the device owner had previously asked for help to regain access to a banking application after losing control of the account. The helper assisted but did not reveal his own account credentials, and the phone was sold.
When the buyer of the phone discovered the password, he tested it within the bank app and the correct combination unlocked access. He then chose to exploit the scenario by submitting four loan requests online. The total borrowed amount reached 50,583 rubles, which he redirected to a friend who had purchased the phone. In effect, the original device owner was left as an unwitting debtor who now faces the consequences of the fraud.
The alleged thief was eventually detained and charged with theft resulting in substantial damage. The case is scheduled for court proceedings in the near future, and prosecutors are weighing the evidence gathered from digital traces and financial records to determine the full extent of liability and intent.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that a previously unemployed young man from Chelyabinsk engaged in a separate, coordinated scheme in which he invited around two dozen people to become investors. Investigators are examining whether this operation involved misrepresentation, nonpublic investment advice, or other forms of financial deception designed to attract money under false pretenses. The authorities emphasize the importance of consumer due diligence and caution when approached with investment opportunities, especially online or through informal networks. [Source: Regional Ministry of Internal Affairs, Sakhalin; local police statements]