Belarus’s Investigative Committee is investigating a case of large-scale fraud in which a 76-year-old resident of Minsk became the victim. According to investigators, fraudsters spent several weeks convincing the pensioner that criminals were trying to steal her property and, under that pretext, forced her to hand over a large amount of money.
According to the Investigative Committee, the case began in late March with a phone call about an alleged upcoming replacement of the intercom system. Later, a man contacted the woman via messenger, introducing himself as a digital security specialist. He claimed that the pensioner had been in contact with fraudsters and that they had gained access to her personal data and information about her real estate.
The frightened Minsk resident was offered a way to “protect her property”. She was instructed to dictate a code received via SMS, write a statement agreeing not to disclose “investigation materials”, photograph it and send it via Viber.
Later, the woman received a call from a person who introduced himself as a KGB officer. He claimed that unknown individuals were allegedly trying to sell the pensioner’s apartment and dacha and that, in order to “preserve the property”, she urgently needed to sell them herself and declare the proceeds.
When the woman expressed doubts, the fraudster showed her an alleged “official office” during a video call to convince her of his identity. He also claimed that an “extremist formation” was allegedly being financed in her name and warned that she would receive a call from a “State Control Committee officer”.
After that, the victim was persuaded to collect all her savings and hand them over to a courier using a code word. The following day, the fraudsters contacted the woman again and demanded that she provide for “verification” money stored in her daughter’s apartment.
According to investigators, the fraudsters continued psychological pressure for a week. Eventually, the Minsk resident was convinced to sell her country house after being assured that the transaction would later be cancelled and both the property and money returned to the owner. After the sale, the woman handed over $24,000 to the fraudsters.
Later, the criminals demanded that she also sell her apartment. The woman had already contacted a real estate agency, but the realtor doubted that she genuinely wanted to sell the property and contacted her daughter. Only then did it become clear that the pensioner had fallen victim to fraud.
Total damages exceeded 260,000 Belarusian roubles, according to the Investigative Committee.
A criminal case has been opened under an article covering fraud committed by an organised group on an especially large scale. Investigators are conducting operational and investigative measures to identify those involved.
The Investigative Committee again reminded the public that law enforcement agencies and banks do not request by telephone that people transfer money, move funds to “safe accounts” or hand them over to couriers. Citizens are urged to immediately end such conversations and contact the police.
