The police detained a courier who took 4 million from a pensioner in Sovetsk.

      At the end of May, a 76-year-old local resident approached the police in Sovetsk. She reported that unknown individuals had stolen 4 million rubles from her. According to the investigation, the pensioner first received a call from a fake employee of the pension fund who informed her about a recalculation of benefits in her favor. The woman dictated a code from an SMS, thereby granting the fraudsters access to her data.

      Then, so-called employees of the "Gosuslugi" portal, the Central Bank, and an "FSB investigator" joined the conversation. They convinced the victim that transfers were being made in her name to an unfriendly country, and that she faced criminal liability for aiding terrorism. To avoid this, the woman was advised to withdraw money from her accounts and transfer it to a "safe account."

      The pensioner withdrew 4 million and handed it over to a courier near her home. After that, the fraudsters attempted to seize another 8 million, but bank employees noticed the suspicious transaction and blocked the transfer. They also contacted the pensioner's daughter, who explained to her mother that she had become a victim of fraud.

      During operational-search activities, the police identified the courier. He turned out to be a 30-year-old resident of the Republic of Tatarstan. He stated that he found an advertisement online for a part-time job: he was promised 20,000 rubles for each video report on the transfer of money. Later, he became a link in the chain—collecting money from the first courier and passing it on.

      The suspect has been detained and is in custody. A criminal case has been initiated under part 4 of article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (fraud on a large scale). The investigation is checking his involvement in similar crimes in other regions.