Beware of fraudsters!

Recently, there has been an increase in cases of fraud in the Beshenkovichi district by residents of Vitebsk against trusting citizens of the district. Fraudsters, posing as individual entrepreneurs, offer citizens services for the manufacture of furniture and, having drawn up a fictitious order, receive an advance payment from customers, and then the entire amount under the contract. When the money is received and spent for purposes other than intended, these individuals hide in Russia, and only law enforcement agencies manage to find them and bring them to justice.

Thus, in 2015, citizen Korostylev, a resident of Vitebsk, was brought to criminal responsibility under Part 1 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus. He was found guilty by the Beshenkovichi District Court of seizing property by deception and sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment with a 1-year deferment of execution. Korostylev N.I. gained the trust of two residents of Beshenkovichi and, having no intention or ability to manufacture furniture, accepted an order from them for its manufacture, received money in installments, and then stopped communicating.

Following a similar scenario, citizen Maslovsky, a resident of Vitebsk, carried out his criminal intent to seize funds from a resident of the village of Bocheikovo, Beshenkovichi District. Not intending to manufacture kitchen furniture for the client, Maslovsky first received an advance payment, and then, showing the client photographs of allegedly manufactured furniture taken on a mobile phone, and the remaining amount under the contract. The fraudster spent the received money, amounting to 3050 rubles 60 kopecks, on paying for rented housing, alimony, purchasing clothes and food, and left for Moscow, where he got a job. Not receiving the order within the specified period, the client became very worried but could not find the fraudster. He had to contact law enforcement agencies. The fraudster was identified in the territory of a neighboring state, brought to criminal responsibility, and convicted by the Beshenkovichi District Court. He is currently serving a sentence of 2 years of restricted freedom with referral to a correctional facility.

It is characteristic that in both cases, the victims had previously ordered furniture from these individuals and were satisfied with the execution of the orders.

The fraudsters have been punished, but only time will tell when the deceived clients will get their money back.

Deputy Prosecutor of the District
Junior Counselor of Justice
E.I. Leshenok