Russian woman loses 666,000 rubles in fake social media promotion scam
A 66-year-old woman from Nakhodka lost over 666,000 rubles to scammers posing as advertising specialists. The fraudsters tricked her into paying for a fake social media promotion campaign that never materialised. Authorities have since launched a criminal investigation into the case.
The incident began when the victim received an unsolicited message from an unknown sender. The sender claimed they could boost her social media community for an initial fee of 9,000 rubles. Trusting the offer, she agreed to proceed.
A person posing as a manager then sent her a contract outlining a multi-stage promotion plan. Each stage required further payments, with assurances that all funds would be refunded once the campaign ended. Over time, the woman transferred a total of 666,100 rubles in instalments. Despite repeated payments, the promised advertising services were never delivered. The scammers cut off contact, leaving the victim with no results and a significant financial loss. Police have now opened a case under Part 3 of Article 159 of the Russian Criminal Code, classifying the crime as large-scale fraud.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to trace the fraudsters responsible. No official reports of similar social media advertising scams in Russia for 2023 have been found. The victim's case serves as a reminder of the risks associated with unsolicited financial offers online.
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