On July 15, a daring incident occurred in Pavlodar: an elderly man and woman brought a cake containing a firecracker to a bank branch, which then exploded. The pensioners sustained minor injuries. According to preliminary reports, they were acting on instructions from phone scammers, reports infohub.kz.
The police department of Pavlodar region said the pensioners had previously fallen victim to scammers by investing money in fake investment projects. An investigation is underway, and authorities have identified individuals acting as money mules. Efforts are being made to recover the stolen funds through the courts.
However, the scammers did not stop. They contacted the pensioners again, claiming they could return their money. "Using psychological manipulation, they persuaded the pensioners to buy a cake and a firecracker. Following the scammers' instructions, the pensioners lit the firecracker placed inside the cake," police reported.
Criminal cases have been opened and suspects are being sought. Police warn that once a person has been defrauded, they may be targeted again. Criminals promise to return money, pay compensation or dividends, or announce a large win. This is a continuation of the fraudulent scheme. Elderly people are particularly vulnerable to psychological pressure.
Citizens are urged to warn their elderly relatives: employees of banks, government agencies, law enforcement, and investment companies never require dangerous actions, money transfers, or following instructions from strangers over the phone.