Russian Singer Larisa Dolina Loses $1.9 Million in Sophisticated Property Scam

Russian singer Larisa Dolina has fallen victim to a sophisticated scam, losing her Moscow apartment and an estimated 180 million rubles (approximately $1.9 million USD). The 68-year-old artist confirmed on August 13 that she had been tricked into selling her five-room, 236-square-meter apartment in the prestigious Hamovniki district for 112 million rubles ($1.2 million USD).According to reports, the scammers, believed to be operating from Ukraine, employed a complex scheme involving threats of FSB (Russian Federal Security Service) involvement to coerce Dolina into taking out loans, transferring her savings, and selling her property. The singer was then persuaded to transfer the proceeds to a supposedly ‘secure’ account, which turned out to be fraudulent.A criminal case has been opened, with Dolina recognized as a victim and her apartment placed under arrest. The incident has sparked a legal quandary, as a Russian family who believed they had legitimately purchased the property attempted to enter the apartment but were denied access.Lawyer Alexander Dobrovinsky commented on the case, stating that challenging such deals is only possible through a criminal process if the perpetrators are caught and all circumstances are clarified. He added that if the buyers are not connected to the scammers, they could also be considered victims.The incident has drawn attention from various public figures, including music producer Iosif Prigozhin, who expressed hope that government agencies would consider Dolina’s contributions to the country and assist her. As the investigation continues, the case highlights the sophisticated nature of modern scams and the challenges in recovering assets in such situations.

Key points

• Russian singer Larisa Dolina lost her Moscow apartment and approximately $1.

9 million in a sophisticated scam.

• The scammers, believed to be from Ukraine, used threats and coercion to force Dolina to sell her property and transfer money.
• A criminal case has been opened, with legal complications arising due to the involvement of apparent legitimate buyers.
• The case highlights the complexity of modern fraud schemes and the challenges in asset recovery.

Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported value of Dolina’s apartment, with figures ranging from 100 million to 150 million rubles.

👾Some sources mention the involvement of Ukrainian mafiosi, while others simply state that the scammers are located in Ukraine.