Iranian National Steals Over 112 Million Dram from 70 Individuals in Armenia

New episodes of a particularly large-scale fraud committed by a citizen of the Islamic Republic of Iran, involving the theft of a total of 112,392,966 AMD from numerous individuals in various currencies, have been revealed. The preliminary investigation regarding this case has been completed.

According to the factual data obtained through extensive investigative and procedural actions conducted by the Serious Crimes Investigation Division of the Yerevan investigative department of the RA Investigative Committee, it has been established that the Iranian citizen, who was wanted by the competent authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran for fraud, arrived in Armenia on November 16, 2019, under the pretense of providing Canadian visas.

With the intention of committing fraud in Armenia in a similar manner, a few days later, on November 21, he established a limited liability company named “America Home Education College,” under the pretext of providing migration consultations and tourist services to create trust and mislead individuals.

Initially unable to attract clients, he hired a citizen in the spring of 2021, assigning them to post paid advertisements about the company’s fictitious activities on the “Facebook” and “Instagram” social networks. As a result, from May 10, 2021, to April 1, 2022, 70 individuals visited the mentioned office.

The Iranian citizen, presenting himself under the name of Sohrab Sadeghi, a highly reputed migration lawyer in the United Kingdom, falsely claimed to be an employee of the US Embassy and collaborated with representatives of the US and Canadian embassies to process visas for traveling to the USA and Canada. Under this false pretense, he fraudulently obtained various currencies totaling 112,392,966 AMD from the citizens.

Based on sufficient evidence obtained, charges have been filed against the Iranian citizen under Article 255, Part 3, Point 3 of the RA Criminal Code. The preliminary investigation has concluded, and the materials of the criminal case, with an accusatory conclusion, have been sent to the supervising prosecutor for approval and submission to the court.

Earlier, in December 2022, a case concerning similar fraudulent activities conducted by the same individual, resulting in the theft of around 157 million AMD from 86 other citizens, was sent to the court with an accusatory conclusion.

Notice: The accused is considered innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the law of the Republic of Armenia, with a legally binding court verdict.