21-year-old courier for phone scammers detained in Minsk
Criminal investigation officers of the Minsk police intercepted a courier for phone scammers who had collected money from an elderly couple and was supposed to take it abroad.
A 21-year-old Minsk student himself fell victim to a scam following the «intercom replacement» scheme.
To allegedly avoid criminal liability and get a good recommendation, the young man was advised to help other similarly defrauded people.
The scammers began using him as a courier. Thus, he came to a family of pensioners who believed the criminals, signed non-disclosure agreements, and then, using the code word «flower», handed over 11 thousand dollars «for declaration».
Police officers detained the courier before he managed to take the money abroad as instructed by his handler. The funds will be returned to the defrauded pensioners.
A criminal case has been initiated on the fact of fraud.
The police reminded: in Belarus, there is no such service as declaring money with the help of a courier. «If during a phone call you are asked to transfer money to the National Bank, take it abroad, or hide it in a secret place, do not follow these instructions, hang up, and immediately call the police at 102,» emphasized Vitaly Saroka, Deputy Head of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Minsk City Executive Committee.