Woman Loses 13.8 Million Rubles to Esoteric Scam in Khabarovsk
A 37-year-old woman in Khabarovsk lost 13.8 million rubles to fraudsters over 10 months. The scam began after she replied to an online ad for esoteric services in February 2025. Authorities have since launched a criminal investigation into the case. The woman first contacted the fraudsters after seeing an advertisement for mystical help. They convinced her she was under a curse and demanded money to lift it. When she hesitated, they threatened harm to her family.
For nearly a year, she continued sending payments, believing the scammers’ claims. The total amount transferred reached 13.8 million rubles. Only after realising the deception did she report the crime to the police.
A criminal case has now been opened under Part 4, Article 159 of the Russian Criminal Code. This charge covers large-scale fraud, reflecting the scale of the financial loss. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities examining the woman’s transfers and the fraudsters’ methods. The case highlights the risks of responding to unverified online offers. Police have urged the public to remain cautious when dealing with unknown services.
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