Tula woman loses 427,000 rubles to furniture scammers

In the Tula Region, 11 people fell victim to scammers in a single day, according to the regional police department (UMVD). The victims were between 21 and 86 years old, and the total damage exceeded 1 million 620 thousand rubles (approximately $18,000 at current rates).

The biggest loss was suffered by a 40-year-old resident of the Soviet District of Tula. She told police that she had communicated with unknown individuals via a popular messaging app — the specific app was not disclosed. Under the pretext of selling furniture, the fraudsters convinced her to transfer 427,000 rubles (about $4,700) to various accounts. After receiving the money, the «sellers» disappeared.

The police remind: people should not let their guard down when communicating with strangers, especially when money is involved. Under no circumstances should you transfer funds to so-called «safe» accounts, share card details, codes, or passwords, or click on suspicious links.

If you receive such calls with similar demands, you should immediately end the conversation. To verify account information, you should call your bank using the number on the back of your card or visit a branch in person.