Russian businessman sentenced to 6 years in prison for scamming celebrities in Moscow
Grigory Muluzyan, a Russian businessman, has been sentenced to 6 years in prison. He scammed several celebrities, including actors and a boxing champion, by promising them significant profits in cryptocurrencies.
A man convicted of scamming celebrities in Moscow
This week, a court in Moscow sentenced Grigory Muluzyan, found guilty of fraud and conspiracy. From 2021 to 2023, the man presented his victims with a fake cryptocurrency investment company, promising significant gains. Acting with accomplices, he met his “clients” in an office in Moscow.
To create the illusion of high returns, Grigory Muluzyan initially paid interest to his victims. These victims include Russian celebrities living in Moscow. Actors Pavel Derevyanko and Artem Tkachenko saw their investments soar. Boxer Alexey Semykin was also a victim, as was director Marius Weisberg.
Victims handed over their money to Muluzyan in cash during in-person meetings in his Moscow office. He deceived them into believing they could increase their income by investing in cryptocurrencies.
Pavel Derevyanko will have paid nearly $3 million to the man he thought was his business partner, even selling a property to fund the fake company. In total, losses amounted to $4.6 million for the victims. The scammer was sentenced to 6 years in prison.
A sadly common story
This scam technique remains unfortunately common. Fake investment experts often promise significant returns to their victims, paying fake interests to trigger larger investments.
It is a reminder that if the promises of gains seem too good to be true, they probably are. To invest safely, it is essential to do so with reputable actors after conducting research. A lesson painfully learned by the Moscow residents scammed by Grigory Muluzyan.
Source: RBC
