A 78-year-old resident of Moscow has fallen victim to a large-scale financial fraud, transferring over 84.5 million rubles (approximately $920,000 USD) to scammers over a period of six months. The incident was brought to light by law enforcement authorities.
The elaborate scam began with an unidentified individual making contact with the elderly man via Telegram. From April to September, the fraudsters skillfully impersonated an officer from the Federal Security Service (FSB), and later, a representative of the Central Bank of Russia. They convinced the pensioner that his substantial savings were at risk and needed to be «safeguarded» by transferring them in installments to accounts controlled by the criminals.
Following the discovery of the fraud, a criminal case has been initiated. Authorities are currently conducting a thorough investigation to uncover all circumstances surrounding the incident and identify those responsible.
This distressing event serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by cybercriminals. Experts, such as Igor Bederov, have previously cautioned the public about various scam tactics, including «missed call» scams. These are designed to exploit individuals` curiosity or anxiety, prompting them to call back and making them more susceptible to further manipulation and fraudulent schemes.
