1. Restaurant and Nightclub Overcharging
You are invited to a bar or restaurant, usually through an approach on the street or a dating app. There are no prices on the menu, or the prices shown bear no relation to the bill. When you try to leave without paying, security staff detain you.
This is fraud under Article 159 of the Criminal Code. The deceptive intent existed before you entered the premises, which is the defining element under Supreme Court Plenum Resolution No. 48 (2017). If staff physically prevented you from leaving, Article 163 (extortion) may apply in addition.

2. Messenger Currency Exchange Fraud
Fraudulent Telegram bots and informal "exchangers" offer rates above the official market. You transfer money by card or phone number. Nothing is delivered.
This scheme has grown significantly since mid-2025 and is specifically flagged by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs as targeting tourists. In some cases in 2025, in-person meetings arranged through these channels ended in robbery.
One legal issue is specific to this scheme: informal currency exchange between private individuals without an authorised bank is itself illegal under Federal Law No. 173-FZ and carries administrative liability. Scammers use this to discourage victims from filing a complaint. Consult an advocate before going to the police. The fraud charge takes precedence, but how your complaint is framed matters.

3. Romance and Dating Fraud
Contact begins through a dating app or social network. Over time, a request for money follows: a medical emergency, travel costs, a business problem. The identity presented is false.
This is Article 159. Above 250,000 roubles the maximum sentence is six years; above 1,000,000 roubles it is ten years. Perpetrators can be identified through account and financial data when a properly supported complaint is filed.

4. Property and Rental Fraud
A property is advertised online at a competitive price. You pay a deposit or full amount in advance. The property does not exist, belongs to someone else, or has been offered to multiple victims simultaneously. It is a fraud under Article 159. Large amounts fall under Part 3 (up to six years) or Part 4 (up to ten years).

Supreme Court Plenum No. 17 (2010) states directly: a person is recognised as a victim regardless of citizenship, age, or other personal characteristics. This is binding guidance for all Russian courts and investigators.

Your rights under Article 42 of the Code of Criminal Procedure:
Art. 18 + Art. 42(7) CCP — Right to give statements and participate in all proceedings in your own language. A free interpreter is provided by the state. All procedural documents served on you must be translated.
Art. 42(4) CCP — Right to submit evidence.
Art. 42(5) CCP — Right to file requests and objections.
Art. 42(12) CCP — Right to review the full case file after the preliminary investigation is complete.
Art. 44 CCP — Right to file a civil claim for damages within the criminal proceedings. This is the main mechanism for recovering your money without a separate lawsuit.
Art. 45 CCP — Right to be represented by an advocate throughout.
Under Federal Law No. 3-FZ "On the Police" (2011): The police are required to protect foreign nationals on the same basis as Russian citizens. Any officer who approaches you must identify themselves by rank, position, and surname, and must explain the legal basis for any restriction of your rights. A document check requires a specific legal ground: suspicion of an offence, a search warrant, or grounds for an administrative matter.

Step 1. Preserve evidence. Secure all communications, transaction records, screenshots, and receipts before doing anything else. Digital evidence is admissible in Russian courts but must exist and be intact from the outset. It is better to avoid using Telegram as it allows to delete communication trail for both sides.

Step 2. Contact an advocate before going to the police. This is particularly important if the transaction involved anything legally ambiguous, such as an informal currency exchange. A badly framed complaint creates procedural problems that are difficult to correct later.

Step 3. File a criminal complaint. Submit a written complaint (заявление о преступлении) to the duty officer at any police station. Under Article 144 CCP, the police must accept and register it. They are required to give you a numbered receipt (талон-уведомление). Keep it. If they refuse to accept the complaint, that refusal can be appealed under Articles 124 and 125 CCP.

Step 4. Know the timeline. Investigators have three days to decide whether to open a case, refuse, or refer it elsewhere. You also need to keep in mind that it is usually extended to thirty days in accordance to the law. You must be notified of the decision.

Step 5. Obtain formal victim status. Once a case is opened, investigators must issue a formal decision recognising you as a victim. Do not accept informal treatment as a complainant. Victim status is what activates your full procedural rights, including access to the case file and the right to file a civil claim.

Do not pay anything informally to resolve the situation. Payment to someone claiming official authority in an unofficial setting is bribery under Article 291.2 of the Criminal Code and you will likely be prosecuted yourself.

Do not hand your passport to anyone who does not produce official identification. Under Article 5 of the Police Law, an officer must present their service credential on request.

Do not sign anything without a translator and a lawyer present.

Do not leave Russia before filing a complaint. Once you leave, your effective participation in the investigation drops sharply, and so do the chances of recovering your money.

Do not expect your embassy to provide legal representation. Embassies can confirm your situation and provide a list of lawyers. They cannot represent you in proceedings or instruct Russian investigators.

Investigators are required to provide a written refusal (постановление об отказе в возбуждении уголовного дела). Two channels of appeal are available:

Article 124 CCP: complaint to the prosecutor's office. Must be reviewed within three days. The prosecutor can overturn the refusal and direct investigators to open a case.

Article 125 CCP: complaint to the district court. Must be heard within fourteen days. The court reviews whether the refusal was lawful and can direct investigators to reconsider.

Complaint drafting. A complaint that identifies the elements of the offence and cites the relevant articles is significantly more likely to result in a case being opened.

Securing victim status. Formal recognition as a victim must happen without delay once a case is opened. Your advocate ensures this and activates the attached rights.

Interpreter coordination. Your advocate arranges qualified interpretation for all dealings with investigators, prosecutors, and courts, and verifies that translated documents are accurate.

Challenging a refusal. If investigators refuse to act, your advocate files under Articles 124 and 125 CCP and pursues the matter through the prosecutor and courts.

Civil damages claim. Your advocate prepares and files the claim within the criminal proceedings so that a conviction triggers enforceable judgment for your losses.

Remote representation. If you cannot remain in Russia, your advocate continues to act under a notarised power of attorney, receives all procedural documents, and reports to you on case progress.

Our practice was established in 2000 by advocate Vladimir Chernyshev. His sons Ilya and Danil joined the practice after years living and working in China, Europe, and the United Kingdom. Chernyshev & Chernyshev represents foreign nationals in criminal proceedings across Russia.

We charge fixed fees for each stage of criminal proceedings. There are no hidden costs or hourly rates — you know the full cost of your defence before we begin.

Contact us for a consultation and we will provide a clear fee estimate based on your situation.

Our advocates are available 24/7 and represent clients in Moscow, St Petersburg, and any other Russian city.

Head of Criminal Practice
Advocate Ilya Chernyshev
Phone / WhatsApp: +7 926 720 8080
WeChat: ilyachernyshev
Email: ilya@chernyshev.law

Advocate Danil Chernyshev
Phone / WhatsApp: +7 929 113 1331
WeChat: danilchernyshev
Email: danil@chernyshev.law