Alleged “Russian Scam” Ring Accused of Defrauding Elderly Russian Speakers

Israel’s State Attorney’s Office has filed an indictment against 31-year-old Oleg Pogosyan of Bat Yam, alleging he was part of an organized fraud network known as the “Russian scam.” According to the indictment, the group systematically targeted elderly Russian-speaking people across Israel by impersonating officials and extracting cash, jewelry, and other valuables worth hundreds of thousands of shekels.

The alleged scheme began with phone calls in which members of the ring posed as representatives of the National Insurance Institute, the Tax Authority, banks, and other official bodies. After gaining victims’ trust, they allegedly persuaded them to gather cash, jewelry, and valuables and hand them over to a supposed representative under various pretexts.

In one case, prosecutors say an elderly woman was told that after an Iranian missile hit a home in Arad, the cash and gold in her house should be insured. After a conference call with a man posing as a tax authority official, she was told someone would come to collect the property for “insurance” and later return it. In another case, a suspect allegedly posed as a National Insurance official and claimed a new law required home property to be insured physically.

The indictment says Pogosyan, or someone acting for him, came to the homes of elderly victims, including in assisted living facilities, to collect the money and property. He is also accused of helping turn the loot into cash, including by finding a gold dealer, checking sale terms in advance, and then selling gold taken from victims. Prosecutors say about half a million shekels’ worth of gold was sold, alongside tens of thousands of shekels in cash. Pogosyan faces 12 charges, including conspiracy to commit a crime, aggravated fraud, impersonation to deceive, theft, and obstruction of justice, and the prosecution is seeking to keep him in custody until the end of proceedings.