WARNING: Invitations to Meet at Mall Parking Lot - A New Fraud Mechanism

Based on reports of evident crimes submitted by numerous individuals, the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia has initiated more than ten criminal proceedings within the Arabkir administrative district's investigative department in Yerevan, regarding cases of fraud involving the theft of various amounts of money under the guise of highly profitable currency exchange.

The examination of the materials related to these criminal proceedings indicates that a specific criminal mechanism is being employed. Specifically, advertisements are being posted by unidentified individuals on various social platforms offering currency exchange at rates significantly higher than those established by the Central Bank of Armenia, using foreign phone numbers primarily associated with WhatsApp and Telegram applications. These numbers are not monitored by Armenian communication operators and are not registered under any individual’s name.

Citizens, lured by the alluring offers in the advertisements, contact these individuals using the listed phone numbers. After reaching an agreement regarding currency exchange, the fraudster(s) instruct the victims to meet at the parking lot of the Rio Mall shopping center in Yerevan. Subsequently, suggesting they cannot be present due to being busy, they request the citizens to pass their money to a close associate who will supposedly handle the currency exchange and return the exchanged amount.

During this process, the fraudsters contact drivers who have posted ads providing taxi services or renting out cars on electronic platforms and apps. Misleading them as well, they express a desire to use their services for a fee significantly higher than the usual rates. Once the drivers agree, the fraudster(s) direct them to approach the aforementioned shopping center's parking lot to supposedly transport their guests from one of Yerevan's well-known hotels to Zvartnots Airport.

Meanwhile, they instruct the would-be victims wishing to exchange currency to approach the vehicle in the parking lot, providing the car's model, license plate number, and the name of the driver as their associate. When the victimized citizens approach the drivers, the fraudster then instructs them to collect the corresponding money for the currency exchange before transporting their guests to the specified locations, asking them to enter the shopping center and pass the money to the person he indicated.

Without further verification, the victims hand over the money they brought for the exchange to the drivers, who then proceed to enter the shopping center, delivering the money to another person. During this time, the victims await in the vehicle cabin, which further increases their confidence that they are dealing with the associate of the person who contacted them.

Both the currency exchange victims and the taxi drivers only realize they have been duped when they return without any money and clarify the situation inside the vehicle, after which they appeal to law enforcement authorities.

The preliminary investigation into the criminal cases has revealed that those to whom the drivers ultimately hand over the money after entering the shopping center are also individuals providing paid services with vehicles. Unaware of the criminal intentions of the person or persons who contacted them, and having agreed on high rates for their services, they transfer the money received at the behest of the fraudster to other individuals in various locations in Yerevan where surveillance cameras are absent.

The investigation has shown that the total damage caused to the victims by this fraudulent scheme amounts to 65,000 USD and approximately 11,000,000 Russian Rubles.

The investigation is ongoing, with necessary measures being taken to identify the individuals engaged in criminal activities. Instructions have been issued to the relevant police department.

Considering that other individuals may also fall victim to this fraudulent scheme, as well as the fact that the absence of physical and visual contact between victims and the perpetrators and the use of virtual phone numbers significantly complicate the identification of the person or persons involved in the crime, the Investigative Committee urges citizens to:

• refrain from engaging with unknown individuals making such enticing offers based on online advertisements that have no real foundations and especially those who avoid revealing their identity in person,
• verify the identity of any individual before transferring money, ascertain their connection to the person who initially contacted them and the purposes for their presence at the specified location,
• utilize currency exchange points or banking services that have state licenses.