Moscow Pensioner Loses Over 30 Million Rubles to Week-Long Phone Impersonation Scam

Overview

• Prosecutors say callers posed as law enforcement and bank security, alleging illegal foreign transfers to create fear.
• Over a week, the victim was directed via phone and messengers to move funds, with withdrawals from three banks exceeding 28 million rubles.
• Couriers collected the cash using passwords, after which the man was persuaded to hand over an additional 2 million rubles borrowed from acquaintances.
• The perpetrators isolated the pensioner by ordering him not to speak with relatives, maintaining control of each step.
• The Cheremushkinskaya interdistrict prosecutor's office oversees efforts to identify those involved, as authorities warn that banks and police never instruct cash withdrawals or courier handoffs.