Moscow business coach became a victim of producers from Dubai: she lost 1.5 million

Money allocated for promotion mysteriously disappeared

A 58-year-old business coach, who wants to achieve popularity on social networks, became a victim of scammers, giving away more than 1.5 million rubles for advertising projects and film tours. The scammers did not provide the footage on time and did not return the money. The victim filed a complaint with the police.

As MK learned, the PR agent and the businesswoman met at a business meeting in a restaurant in the center of the capital in November 2023. The women discussed business projects, as well as their PR. Then the guest, who had flown in from the UAE for the meeting, suggested that the business coach go to Turkey to take part in the filming of the film. This was supposed to help increase the woman’s popularity on social networks, because the short film, according to a new friend, would have to go to an international festival.

Without thinking twice, the Muscovite entered into an online agreement with the woman and transferred 140 thousand rubles to her account. On November 21, the women, together with a film director (the producer’s husband), a cameraman and several other actors, flew to Turkey.

For seven days, the group was filming a short film; the invited actors lived in a four-star hotel. During the filming process, the Muscovite also received an offer to star in an advertisement for a famous Italian fashion house.

The film director explained that he collaborates with well-known companies and provides them with video material with models and brand products, and also has a license. Already in Moscow, the woman took out a bank loan for 1 million 150 thousand rubles and in several stages transferred 800 thousand to the producer’s bank account. In January 2024, the women, along with an established film crew and director, flew to Dubai to film the commercial. However, the products of the Italian brand were not shown in the frame; they promised to bring them later. The film director promised that he would soon edit a short film, a commercial and send all the material to the filming participants. But it soon became clear that the PR company that organized the filming process did not pay the operator for his work, and he did not send the footage.

The Muscovite, like her HR colleagues, are still waiting for a refund for services not provided. Among other things, the 58-year-old lady, again under the terms of the agreement, personally transferred 283 thousand 500 rubles in the first two months of 2024, as well as 300 thousand rubles in the name of the PR assistant for investment in various projects.

Law enforcement officials are conducting an investigation.