Businessman's Apartment Seized in 'Dolinaya Effect' Fraud Case
Karen Badamyan received keys to his seized apartment in Volzhsk, Russia, after a month-long standoff, but he cannot live there as it remains subject to a criminal investigation.
Jan 23, 2026 0
Karen Badamyan displays the keys to the seized apartment.
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Karen Badamyan, the director of an electronics store in Volzhsk, Russia, has become the center of a criminal fraud case known as the «Dolinaya effect.» The apartment he purchased in late October 2025 was seized, but after a month of confrontation, the new owner managed to get the keys.
The «Dolinaya effect» fraud scheme often targets elderly people.
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The «Dolinaya effect» scheme typically involves a person, often elderly, selling their apartment and then reporting to the police that they were forced into the deal by fraudsters. According to the «victim»s« version, the sale proceeds are allegedly transferred to criminals, and the property is often confiscated from the bona fide buyer.
The new apartment owner expresses bewilderment at the situation.
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Karen Badamyan bought a 46-square-meter apartment from a 70-year-old woman, who explained the sale by a desire to move to another city to live with her sister. During the transaction, the businessman recorded the seller«s voluntary consent on video.
Two weeks later, when it was time to vacate the premises, the situation changed. The former owner first asked for an extension, and then a fraud report was filed with the police. According to the investigation, the woman may have been misled by an offer to invest in the stock market.
Karen relayed the words of the seller«s daughter:
According to her daughter, the woman was allegedly put under hypnosis. The scammers convinced the grandmother that she could earn money on the stock exchange: the family supposedly had some outstanding loans, and the grandmother wanted to earn money. After the sale, she withdrew the money in parts and allegedly passed it on to someone.
Initially, the keys to the apartment were not handed over to the new owner. The seller«s family also could not return the more than 2 million rubles (about $22,200 at current rates) for the property. Nevertheless, after a month of negotiations, the keys were given to Karen.
A criminal case for fraud has already been initiated. The businessman stated:
A criminal case on the fact of fraud has already been initiated, and, as a police officer told me, my apartment will be seized, blocking any registration actions.
On 30 November, Karen and his lawyer were questioned as witnesses. After that, they managed to agree with the opposing party«s lawyer on the transfer of the keys. The seller moved in with her daughter, who owns an apartment in Volzhsk.
The man does not hide his bewilderment:
Even if the seller was deceived and the money was taken, what does my apartment have to do with it? I paid for it in full and transferred the funds to the seller, not to some fraudsters.
Currently, the apartment is completely empty—all belongings have been removed. Living there is impossible, and, as Karen complained, he is still not being briefed on the details of the case.
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