Almaty's police department has issued a warning to men: a romantic acquaintance made online can turn into a criminal trap and a robbery, the website infohub.kz reports.
According to the department's press service, the scheme works like this: a woman arranges to meet a man, they go to an apartment alone, and then strangers suddenly appear claiming to be her brothers. Threats, extortion and robbery follow.
"A woman arranges to meet a man, and they go to an apartment alone. But then strangers suddenly appear, claiming to be her brothers. What follows is threats, extortion and robbery. A romantic acquaintance turns into a criminal trap," the police department said.
According to police, such schemes in Almaty have already led to the detention of entire criminal groups. Since the start of the year, four such groups have been identified, detained and convicted, but new cases have emerged.
"Behind harmless messaging there may be a pre-planned crime. Do not agree to dubious meetings in unfamiliar places, stay vigilant and contact the police immediately at the first sign of a threat," the department added.
Earlier, Almaty police had already warned men about a series of crimes committed according to a similar scenario.