Criminal Network Exploits Soldiers in St. Petersburg Military Recruitment Fraud Scheme

Russian authorities apprehended four individuals accused of tricking military personnel into giving up their salaries and bonuses intended for deployment in Ukraine, according to the Interior Ministry on Friday.

Law enforcement revealed they are investigating three fraudulent cases amounting to 2.5 million rubles ($30,800). Investigators suspect that over 40 individuals have been victimized, with total losses potentially surpassing 80 million rubles ($985,500).

Some victims of the scheme are thought to have died while serving in Ukraine.

As per a police announcement, a resident of St. Petersburg along with three accomplices from the nearby Pskov region exploited men who were previously denied military service, including those turned down for health reasons.

Since at least mid-2024, the suspects allegedly posed as intermediaries with ties to military recruitment offices and promised assistance in securing service contracts for a fee. Once enlisted, these individuals were brought to St. Petersburg, where they were registered for military service using forged documents.

The recruits were directed to open bank accounts to receive state compensation for their military service. The police reported that the group persuaded these soldiers to relinquish their bank cards and online banking credentials under the guise of managing their payments and deducting fees.

According to the Interior Ministry, the suspected fraudsters then diverted the incoming payments into their own accounts.

During searches of various recruitment offices and residences, authorities seized electronic devices, bank cards, and counterfeit stamps and forms.

Interior Ministry spokesperson Irina Volk stated that the police are actively identifying more victims of this fraud and are working to seize assets from the fraud group to compensate those harmed.

The four individuals involved have been remanded in pre-trial custody and could face up to 10 years in prison on fraud charges.