A 30-year-old retail specialist in Voronezh transferred cash to a courier after online contacts promised profitable cryptocurrency investments.

Case details

The man met a woman on a dating site who said she earned well on a crypto exchange and provided a contact described as an investor-consultant.

Convinced to invest, he took a loan secured by his apartment and handed ₽2.5 mln in cash to a courier during April.

He reported the incident to police on 16 June, almost two months after giving the money; the report prompted a formal inquiry.

Legal response and regional context

Investigators opened a criminal case under part 4 of article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years' imprisonment.

Authorities say investigative actions are ongoing as they seek to identify and detain those involved in the scheme and to recover funds where possible.

Law enforcement noted this incident is not isolated: previously another Voronezh resident lost ₽10 mln after investing in fraudsters' low-quality cryptocurrency tokens.

Modus operandi

Cases of this type commonly involve online contact, promises of high returns, a recommended intermediary, and cash handover via courier service.

Police advise exercising caution with unsolicited investment proposals, avoiding unsecured loans for speculative purchases, and reporting suspected fraud promptly.