An investigator of the Main Investigation Department of the Main Investigation Department of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region has completed a preliminary investigation into a criminal case of fraud against the elderly. Seven residents of St. Petersburg and two visitors from Ukraine are accused of a series of crimes.
“According to investigators, a 54-year-old man with two accomplices outside Russia created an organized group that committed 41 episodes of fraud in 2021. The victims were residents of Moscow, St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region over the age of 80. Among them are residents of Besieged Leningrad, veterans and participants in the Second World War, children of the war, four of whom died after committing crimes.
Employees of call centers located on the territory of Ukraine called the Russians on landline phones and convinced the interlocutors that their relative was responsible for the traffic accident. Swindlers persuaded the victims to transfer money, allegedly to compensate for the harm caused. After that, taxis were called to their addresses, to the drivers of which gullible pensioners transferred their savings, ”said Irina Volk, official representative of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The total material damage amounted to more than 11 million rubles. At the request of the investigator, the court seized the funds, bank accounts and cars of the accused.
“During the operational-search activities, the police identified nine members of the organized group and detained them.
At present, the preliminary investigation of the criminal case on the grounds of a crime under Part 4 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation has been completed. With the indictment approved by the prosecutor, it was sent to the court for consideration on the merits,” Irina Volk said.
“According to investigators, a 54-year-old man with two accomplices outside Russia created an organized group that committed 41 episodes of fraud in 2021. The victims were residents of Moscow, St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region over the age of 80. Among them are residents of Besieged Leningrad, veterans and participants in the Second World War, children of the war, four of whom died after committing crimes.
Employees of call centers located on the territory of Ukraine called the Russians on landline phones and convinced the interlocutors that their relative was responsible for the traffic accident. Swindlers persuaded the victims to transfer money, allegedly to compensate for the harm caused. After that, taxis were called to their addresses, to the drivers of which gullible pensioners transferred their savings, ”said Irina Volk, official representative of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The total material damage amounted to more than 11 million rubles. At the request of the investigator, the court seized the funds, bank accounts and cars of the accused.
“During the operational-search activities, the police identified nine members of the organized group and detained them.
At present, the preliminary investigation of the criminal case on the grounds of a crime under Part 4 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation has been completed. With the indictment approved by the prosecutor, it was sent to the court for consideration on the merits,” Irina Volk said.
