In Kirov, the investigation into a case against fraudsters who defrauded 40 pensioners has been completed.

      The investigative unit of the investigative directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for Kirov Oblast has completed the investigation of a criminal case opened under Part 4 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (fraud committed by an organized group).

      According to the investigation, since early 2022 a 29-year-old resident of Tver organized in Kirov the activities of a company offering services for the repair and replacement of electrical equipment. Company employees called elderly residents of the region, arranged for "specialists" to visit and, under the pretext of checking the wiring, convinced pensioners of the need for urgent replacement of sockets, switches and light fixtures.

      Elderly people were intimidated with claims of a rise in fires due to "faulty" electrical appliances and were even warned of liability for refusing to allow workers access to the equipment. Cheap materials were used for the "repairs", while the cost of the work was deliberately inflated — the bills amounted to tens of thousands of rubles.

      According to the Interior Ministry, the criminal scheme operated for almost two years. Forty residents of Kirov Oblast were defrauded, and the total damage amounted to more than 1.2 million rubles. Seven people were brought to criminal responsibility during the investigation. To ensure recovery of the damage, investigators seized the car of one of the suspects.

      The criminal case has now been sent to the prosecutor's office of Kirov Oblast for approval of the indictment and subsequent consideration in court.