"We don't have a valley here," - the ombudsman told about the Ural residents who lost their homes due to fraudsters
A wave of property fraud has hit Russia’s Sverdlovsk region, leaving at least eight people without their homes or savings. The victims, far from being vulnerable outcasts, are educated and intelligent women who were deceived by sophisticated scammers. One high-profile case involves singer Larisa Dolina, who lost her Moscow apartment in 2024 after falling for a phone scam.
The fraud trend emerged in 2025, with criminals persuading homeowners to sell their properties rather than simply withdraw money. Among the victims is Yelena Kuznetsova, who, like others, sought help from regional human rights ombudsman Tatyana Merzlyakova. The scams targeted individuals capable of critical thinking, yet they were still manipulated into handing over their homes.
Dolina’s case became a legal battleground after she sold her Moscow apartment under false pretences. Initially, the Khamovniki District Court and a second cassation court ruled in her favour, restoring her ownership. However, Russia’s Supreme Court later overturned these decisions, upholding the buyer’s rights and ordering a new review of her eviction.
The Supreme Court’s ruling leaves Dolina’s future in doubt, while the Sverdlovsk victims face financial ruin. Authorities continue to investigate, but the cases highlight the growing sophistication of property fraud in Russia. Those affected now rely on legal support to recover their lost homes and assets.
