A gang of fraudsters who defrauded people of 130 million has been dismantled in Tatarstan.

      A criminal group had been defrauding pensioners and companies for years through online schemes.

      In Tatarstan, law enforcement officers detained nine members of the criminal group who, over several months in 2025, stole more than 130 million rubles from individuals and companies. The republic’s prosecutor’s office coordinated the operation to apprehend the fraudsters.

      The investigation showed that the criminal community was formed as far back as the early 2000s in Kazan neighborhoods. Over time, disparate groups merged into a powerful structure with its own cash pool — a "common fund" or "obshchak" — into which money from illegal operations and legitimate businesses flowed.

      By 2023 the perpetrators had created a well-tuned system for defrauding socially vulnerable citizens, especially pensioners. The group had a clear hierarchy: each member knew their role, regular meetings were held, modern means of communication were used, and special vehicles were employed.

      "The criminals found accomplices abroad through internet platforms," investigators said. "The money of the deceived Russians was transferred to the bank cards of the organizer of the criminal scheme."

      The victims included ordinary citizens, who lost between 868,000 and 5 million rubles, as well as companies that lost more than 120 million rubles. In total, several high-profile thefts occurred from January to May 2025.

      At the request of the prosecutor’s office, a criminal case has been opened for organizing a criminal community. The investigation is checking the detainees’ involvement in similar crimes in other regions of Russia. The progress of the investigation is under the special supervision of the oversight agency.

      Gulchechek Izmailova

      More news about the event:

      Nine members of a criminal community who stole more than 130 million rubles were detained in Tatarstan

      Members of a criminal group in Tatarstan stole 130 million rubles over five months in 2025. 18:43 17.11.2025 Business Online — Kazan

      A gang of fraudsters who robbed people of 130 million has been neutralized in Tatarstan

      The criminal group had been defrauding pensioners and companies for years through online schemes. 18:11 17.11.2025 Novaya Zhizn newspaper — Bolgar

      Nine people who stole more than 130 million rubles were detained in Tatarstan

      With the coordinating role of the Tatarstan prosecutor’s office, law enforcement detained nine members of a criminal community involved in the theft of more than 130 million rubles. 18:09 17.11.2025 GTRK Tatarstan — Kazan

      Related regional news on the topic:

      In a week fraudsters swindled Kaliningrad residents out of 13 million

      In just the last seven days, dozens of residents of the Kaliningrad Region became victims of scammers, handing over more than 13 million rubles to them. 14:49 17.11.2025 Yantarny Krai — Kaliningrad

      How to protect a pensioner from scammers: several important rules

      Elderly people are easy to manipulate. They are, like children, naive and trusting; it is easier to mislead or intimidate them. 18:25 17.11.2025 Kozulsky District — Kozulka

      A Tver pensioner will be returned 900 thousand rubles transferred to scammers

      Photo: Prosecutor’s Office of the Tver Region

      A 67-year-old pensioner who fell victim to scammers appealed to the prosecutor’s office of the Zavolzhsky District of Tver. 14:06 17.11.2025 TIA — Tver

      In Primorye, scammers deceived 20 SVO veterans

      The prosecutor’s office uncovered a criminal scheme that operated in Vladivostok since 2021. 14:24 17.11.2025 GTRK Vladivostok — Vladivostok

      In Bratsk, a 20-year-old resident of Magadan was detained on suspicion of involvement in a fraudulent scheme

      A 20-year-old resident of Magadan was detained in Bratsk on suspicion of participating in a fraudulent scheme. 11:35 17.11.2025 Golos Angary — Bratsk

      Escalation of the conflict could affect economic ties and tourism

      China warns of possible countermeasures against Japan following remarks by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi about Taiwan.

      Realnoe Vremya

      The Defense Ministry reported successes of the 70th and 270th motor rifle regiments

      Head of Russia’s Defense Ministry Andrey Belousov reported the advance of the 70th and 270th motor rifle regiments on the Orekhov direction in the SVO zone.

      Realnoe Vremya

      The head of the union for promoting industrial development acted as an intermediary in a bribe transfer

      Employees of the Russian FSB regional directorate exposed a criminal group that stole funds allocated for the socio-economic development of the region.

      Realnoe Vremya

      Two Palestinians, including a child, were killed as a result of drone attacks

      Drones of the Israeli armed forces struck two districts in the Gaza Strip despite an existing ceasefire.

      Realnoe Vremya

      Good news for fans of live communication in the national messenger MAX.

      Main Directorate of Veterinary Medicine

      The high-ranking official whom the FSB reported an assassination attempt on may have been the Secretary of the Russian Security Council, Sergey Shoigu.

      Business Online

      A continuation of the great composer’s first love was found at the Kariyev Theater

      Saidashev is one, and Gulyandam — three.

      Realnoe Vremya

      A charity concert was organized in the settlement of the state farm named after October 25.

      Kamskaya Nov

      Today at the GBKZ named after Saidashev, at the international festival "Eastern Bazaar in Kazan," a concert in memory of Ilgam Shakirov took place.

      Business Online