Loaded to the fullest: Russians are lured into "commodity pyramids"
The Muscovite, who invested his own and borrowed funds in a promising deal involving the purchase of expensive, scarce electronics and household appliances abroad, lost all his money. The "startup" turned out to be a typical gamble known as a "product pyramid". The victim is "lured" by several successful deals for the supply of equipment for a relatively small amount, and then persuaded to "invest in the project" significant funds and left without money. The details are in the Izvestia investigation.
Chronicle of the Financial Abyss
Sanctions against Russia have led to the emergence of numerous "gray" schemes for the supply of goods from abroad. Earlier, Izvestia wrote about fraudsters who import cars into the Russian Federation. This time, the editors came up with a different version of this scheme, but instead of cars, scammers offer to invest in the import of iPhones and consumer electronics. It is curious that the actors were previously associated with the supply of American and European cars through Transcaucasia.
Mikhail Barovsky, a Muscovite, met a certain Saida M. (the surname is known to the editorial staff) in February of this year through his former business partner. The girl was introduced as a logistics coordinator. Saika (as she asked to be called) offered Barovsky to invest in the supply of electronics from China for a relatively small amount. The man was promised to return everything on time with a deposit. And so it happened. To prove the reliability of the case, Saika showed videos of warehouses full of goods on her smartphone.
— Everything looked plausible, — says Barovsky. — She invited me to her alleged pavilion at the Gorbushka. Through this point, she allegedly sold Apple products, which were brought to her directly from China. She said that she had everything settled with customs in China and Kyrgyzstan — they say, the cargo was going that way. But the most important lie is that she has her own broker at the official Apple factory in China, who is able to force the factory to produce a batch of smartphones in excess of the norm.
The fateful day came on March 15, 2025, when Barovsky met with Saika once again. It was then that "she offered to invest in the purchase of a batch of LG and Samsung TVs for a total of 15,390,000 rubles. I also signed a purchase and sale agreement with her sole proprietor (...) and he immediately handed her cash in the amount of 15,390,000 rubles," Barovsky said in a statement to the Department of Internal Affairs of CJSC.
After that, Saida demanded more money several times "for a broker at a Chinese factory." As a result, Barovsky transferred several more million rubles, the total amount of damage appearing in the statement to the police is almost 21.7 million rubles. Izvestia sent a request to the metropolitan police regarding the fate of Barovsky's appeal.
Right now, Saida doesn't get in touch, only occasionally sends audio messages in which she makes appointments, and then disappears from view.
"This is being done in order to move away from the criminal-legal plane to the civil one," Barovsky believes. Together with him, his relative fell for the bait, who transferred all his savings and credit funds to Saida through his brother.
The legend of the beautiful construction site
Izvestia found out that this was not the first police report against Saida M. In May last year, she allegedly embezzled funds from a Muscovite woman under the pretext of supplying and installing expensive building materials, equipment, and windows (the editorial office has the registration number of the application). If the girl was introduced to Mikhail as a virtuoso of logistics and trade in machinery, then the Muscovite Elena S. (name changed at her request) was introduced as a wonderful interior designer.
"She also offered to participate in some purchases and deliveries of goods and even cars, but I consider such schemes questionable and therefore immediately refused,— Elena told Izvestia.
Elena is also trying to collect money from Saida in a civil case. According to her, she has the necessary receipts and contracts. Elena's lawyers are also preparing another appeal to the police regarding additional episodes of embezzlement.
According to a police source, several people may participate in such schemes.
"The girl who appears in the statements can only be a tool for committing fraud — she is a nominal figure to whom all claims will eventually flow," explained a law enforcement source, "The true beneficiaries of the withdrawal schemes in such cases remain in the shadows.
The gift of selling
Izvestia found four more people from whom Saida M. took the money and did not return it. Two people contacted the police about the theft, but were refused to initiate criminal proceedings. Anastasia L., a Muscovite (the information is available in the editorial office), is also preparing a package of documents for contacting the police.
— Saida and I met in the elite residential complex where I live, and she rents an apartment, but she tells everyone that she is the owner, — says Anastasia. — It all started with the dogs, and then Saida, among other things, said that she was engaged in repairs. I was in a difficult life situation, and she knew it. She surrounded me with attention and care, introduced me to her relatives.… And all for the sake of me giving her the order to execute.
According to the agreement, Saida had to provide the supply and installation of equipment, building materials and expensive furniture in five apartments. She also said that she would be able to settle all issues with the licensing authorities. After that, she received a multimillion-dollar advance, but the work was not carried out in full under various pretexts. Anastasia L. estimates the total amount of damage caused by Saida M.'s actions at over 30 million rubles.
According to the interviewee, those dissatisfied with the design and construction "services" united thanks to the contractor whom Saida M. tried to use in her combinations. At some point, he realized that the facilities would not be completed, and informed the customers about it.
"After the cards were revealed, Saida's tone also changed — from politeness and politeness, she switched to insults,— Anastasia says.
Anastasia was also offered an adventure with the supply of electronics, but she refused this idea.
— I'm in business myself, and this model immediately seemed suspicious to me, given the unprecedented interest promised. But she has a gift for selling, I'm not surprised that she managed to catch someone on this story.
The Muscovite is now amazed at how easily the girl was able to persuade her to give her the money.
— I've heard about her reputation, but she said it was malicious. I trusted her as a friend. She went to France, Italy, bought expensive things. Only then did I begin to realize that it was all due to deception. At my expense.
The editorial office's investigation led to another victim, who is preparing an appeal to law enforcement agencies. Izvestia will continue to investigate the situation with the defrauded clients and partners of Saida M., affected by her actions, please contact the editorial office by e-mail.
In the file of court cases, Saida's name appears in several lawsuits as a defendant — according to open sources, the girl is registered in the Rostov region, is the head and owner of a design company in Rostov-on-Don. Her clients have sued her in the past, and she managed to win one of the courts. Saida is a model—looking girl who drives executive class cars. Her social media accounts are full of photos from expensive restaurants.
According to Izvestia's business source, the girl may be related to a citizen of Kazakhstan who has a commercial interest in the Sadovod market on Krasnodarskaya Street.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
