Moldovan police arrests eight people accused of scam in large proportions

Chisinau 10 February /MOLDPRES/- The Moldovan police arrested eight members of a criminal group involved in a financial pyramid, collecting money from people through extortion methods.

The acting head of the Police General Inspectorate, Gheorghe Cavcaliuc during a news conference today said the criminal group had been active in Moldova for two years under the name of “Mercury Fond” financial pyramid. It collected money from citizens, promising them advantageous interest rates in short periods of time.

“We identified ten victims of the group, and the prejudice they had suffered accounts for approximately 60,000 lei. Subsequently, during the investigations, policemen found out that another 100 people had been deceived by the group, suffering financial damages of up to three million lei,” Cavcaliuc said.

The criminal group was made of 30 people. Each member had their own attributions and tasks, specifically determined to draw new people into the pyramid and convince them to invest as much money as possible in a virtual space called “investment fund”. For the beginning, people were supposed to invest between ten and 15 thousand lei.

Victims were mostly recruited from Ungheni, Falesti, Singerei and Drochia districts, as well as from Balti and Chisinau, through religious meetings carried out the pyramid’s members. They used to create an enthusiastic atmosphere during the meetings and incite people psychologically, convincing them to invest their money.  

Policemen carried out 30 searches in more Moldovan localities, seizing booklets and computers belonging to the pyramid, along with 35 credit cards from Moldova and other ten countries and money (9,000 euros, 6,000 dollars, and 70,000 rubles). Prosecutors have also seized five cars of the pyramid’s members, blocking their banking accounts and deposit safes.

The accused are aged between 21 and 52, some of them with dual citizenship. Three of the suspects were currently issues a 30-day arrest warrant, while the court is still going to rule on the other five ones. The suspects risk 15 years of prison for scam in extremely large proportions.

A similar case was registered in Moldova during 1998-1999, when similar schemes were used to deceive and deprive people from money. Back then, the leader of the group was arrested and sentenced to 25 years of prison.

(Reporter P. Beregoi, Editor L. Alcaza)