Fraud is a characteristic of humankind.  It’s been here for over 5000 years and is here to stay. People have coexisted with this problem from the beginning of time, and we will continue to face it in all its different forms throughout history.  Fraud was prevalent in Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, and it still thrives today!  And although fraud has no boundaries, there are certainly places where the incidence grows due to social inequalities, rough economic situations, education and other cultural standards.  The internet has increased the level of fraud significantly.

Russia is in fact a high risk country for fraud.  The media constantly features stories of fraud originating in Russia that can go anywhere from investment scam, to massive forgery and plagiarism.  The country is plagued with criminals trying to get easy money, and unfortunately they are being successful and earning big money out of innocent people.  Russian hackers and internet criminals are experienced and know how to target their victims, whether they be corporate or individual targets.

Internet fraudsters and Russian romance scammers abound in Moscow and St. Petersburg, two of the major cities of this country. Most of them do not work alone but rather belong to a crime ring that supports them with resources and even education and training on how to conduct fraud.

Professional private investigators in Russia say that the cases are many and the schemes used vary a lot. Most of the Russian fraudsters are skilled hackers, so they will most likely work on trying to catch the big fish and get the most profit out of their effort. That is why some of the recent cases of fraud originating from Russia involve massive attacks or well picked targets like celebrities and politicians.

Experienced investigators from Russia PI alert the public of some of the most popular schemes used by fraudsters in Russia currently, and of ways to prevent fraud from affecting you.

Identity theft

Russian hackers are targeting personal information because they have discovered the real value it has.  Many of the recent hacks in the U.S. have targeted people´s personal and identification information because it is one of the best sold items in the black market.  In the past, criminals would steal credit card information to shop online for a few items. But having people´s personal information is a lot more profitable nowadays, since this helps run many other types of fraud without the victim knowing what is going on.  The criminals use personal details to apply for credit and store cards, to request big loans, to open bank accounts for money laundering, to have access to prescriptions that will let them buy certain types of drugs, to order expensive equipment online from abroad, etc.

There is so much a fraudster can do by using someone else´s identity  that we could keep going with the list forever. Taking care of personal information is crucial to avoid being a victim. Do not share your private information online, limit what you share on social media sites and try to avoid being part of  databases by not subscribing to services that require you to give your information.

Investment fraud

Russia is after all one of the most powerful economies in the world. Doing business in Russia or with a Russian company is certainly a great opportunity for many. However, as tempting as a deal may be, it is important for every investor -on a corporate or individual level- to get professional assistance to verify that the Russian party you are dealing with is legitimate and clean. Conducting a company background check or due diligence in Moscow or St. Petersburg can save you from a lot of financial or even legal trouble.  Expert private investigators can uncover the evidence you need so you can make an informed decision and mitigate your risk.  Knowing the facts in Russia is critical to your success.

Russian fraudsters earn big because many people skip or simply ignore the prevention tools that are available. Don´t be one of them! Get a confidential, free investigation quote today.

C. Wright

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