Russia’s Interior Ministry Flags New Dating-Site Scam Using Fake Ticket Refunds

Officials outline a refund-pretext ploy built around a theater date invitation.

Overview

Police materials describe scammers meeting victims on dating platforms before proposing a theater outing and sending a payment link for e‑tickets.
Victims who pay see the funds debited but never receive the promised e‑tickets by email.
Fraudsters then pose as customer-support staff and demand additional transfers supposedly required to process a refund.
RIA Novosti reports the scheme based on Interior Ministry documentation that characterizes it as a newly observed method.
Authorities issued the notice as a public warning without figures on victim counts, losses, arrests, or prosecutions.