Fraudsters have begun to use a new hybrid scheme to deceive Russians, combining several well-known tactics.
The scheme is aimed at the victims themselves and their relatives.
First of all, criminals call the potential victim with an offer to invest with the help of a "personal consultant", RIA Novosti reports.
After the funds have been transferred, the client is given access to a personal account, where supposedly successful investments and income are presented.
When the victim decides to withdraw the money, he is asked to pay the tax code required for the transfer.
After payment, the victim is informed that he is suspected of fraud and that it is impossible to withdraw money.
The criminals then offer to transfer funds to the account of a trusted person.
The victim's relatives then become the next targets for the scammers. The criminals threaten the victims with confiscation of property, bailiffs and prison.
Often, fraudulent schemes result in large loans or the sale of housing.
Thus, all funds transferred by victims and their relatives go to the fraudsters’ accounts.
