Fraud and Forgery Chain Revealed

The investigation department of the Serious Crimes Investigation of the RA Investigative Committee has concluded the preliminary investigation regarding a series of fraud and embezzlement cases committed by a group of individuals who, in collusion, used the personal data of citizens and forged their signatures. Four individuals have been charged in relation to this case, with 15 physical and legal entities recognized as victims.

As a result of extensive investigative and procedural actions carried out in the pre-trial proceedings, various circumstances of the cases were clarified, including the identification of four individuals who had committed the apparent crime, as well as the mechanisms of the offenses.

Specifically, it was determined during the investigation that a 52-year-old resident of Yerevan, using his 19-year-old daughter, committed fraud to deceive others. According to the investigation data, the father and daughter searched and found advertisements related to cell phone sales online. Based on their roles, the daughter called to express interest in purchasing a phone and arranged a meeting. During the meeting, the father offered to pay for the mobile phone in Russian rubles but instead of real banknotes, he paid with counterfeit souvenir bills.

A total of 7 criminal cases were initiated regarding these incidents, and a decision was made to consolidate them into one proceeding and conduct a joint investigation.

During the preliminary investigation, it was further revealed that the 52-year-old resident of Yerevan had committed other frauds and forgeries. In particular, it was established that he, in collusion with a group of individuals, used various citizens' passport data to sign installment sale agreements with different banks and acquired various types of equipment through forgery of the citizens' signatures.

As a result of extensive investigative actions, the source of obtaining the citizens' passport data was uncovered, and a complete chain of frauds and forgeries was revealed. The identity of another two individuals involved in these crimes and their execution mechanisms were also established. Thus, it was obtained during the investigation that the 52-year-old man and another individual—a 36-year-old resident of Ejmiadzin—received various citizens’ passport data from a 29-year-old resident of Yeghgneadzor, who worked as a senior specialist in one of the telecommunications companies in Armenia between March and May 2018.

It was found that he, along with the mentioned individuals and several unidentified persons, used the passport data of clients who approached the office to sign installment sale contracts with various banks, acquiring and fraudulently stealing various types of equipment. Subsequently, as per their arrangements, they sold the acquired equipment and managed the funds obtained, thereby causing significant property damage.

As a result of the investigative and procedural actions, part of the goods stolen through fraud was discovered and seized.

Additionally, it was revealed that a 25-year-old resident of Yeghgneadzor, acting as the financial responsible for a telecommunications company’s office, misappropriated a total of 889,680 AMD from the funds entrusted to him, as well as 73 different goods valued at a total of 2,947,347.02 AMD that were supposed to be sold in that office, causing the company a total property damage of 3,837,027.02 AMD.

The total damage caused to citizens and physical entities, according to investigation data, amounts to 21 million 621 thousand AMD.

With sufficient evidence obtained, charges were filed against the resident of Yeghgneadzor under part 1 of Article 178 (3 incidents), part 2, point 1 of Article 178 (29 incidents), part 2, point 2 of Article 178 (16 incidents), parts 1 and 2 of Article 34-178 (1 incident), point 1 of part 3 of Article 179 (1 incident), part 1 of Article 325 (12 incidents), and part 2 of Article 325 (29 incidents).

The resident of Ejmiadzin was charged under part 2, point 1 of Article 178 (4 incidents), part 2, point 2 of Article 178 (2 incidents), and part 2 of Article 325 (4 incidents).

The resident of Yerevan was charged under part 2, point 1 of Article 178 (7 incidents), parts 1 and 2 of Article 178 (1 incident), and part 2 of Article 325 (1 incident), and parts 1 and 2 of Article 34-178 (1 incident), while the daughter was charged under part 2, point 1 of Article 178 (7 incidents).

As a preventive measure, arrest was chosen for the resident of Yeghgneadzor, while the other three were given a signature not to leave.

The preliminary investigation regarding the four accused has been completed, and the criminal case, along with the accusatory conclusion, has been forwarded to the court. The investigation continues to identify other possible participants involved in the fraud.