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A 76-year-old pensioner in Talgar has lost her sole property to a sophisticated scam. The fraudsters, posing as police officers, convinced the elderly woman that her home was involved in illegal activity, leading her to believe that transferring ownership was the only way to protect it.

The elaborate scheme resulted in the woman not only losing her home but also her life savings, leaving her in a precarious situation. This distressing case highlights a growing trend of criminals targeting vulnerable seniors.

The Pensioner's Ordeal

The details of this incident were shared by Yevgeny Goncharov, a lawyer with the Almaty City Bar Association, who is representing the pensioner in court. The woman's health has reportedly deteriorated following the ordeal, and she is currently hospitalized.

According to Goncharov, the scam began in August 2025 when unknown individuals contacted the woman via video call. One of the scammers identified himself as a police colonel, using the woman's personal information to gain her trust. They claimed that illegal actions were being taken against her property and that the only solution was to falsely sell the house to circumvent the alleged fraud. They promised to reverse the transaction within a week.

Initially skeptical, the woman was subjected to persistent pressure and repeated calls from the scammers. Eventually, out of fear and a sense of helplessness, she agreed to their demands. The fraudsters even provided phone numbers for real estate agents who would assist in the sale.

The Court Process and Ruling

The first real estate agent proposed selling the house for 20 million tenge, but later withdrew from the deal, sensing something was amiss. A second agent agreed to sell the property for 15-16 million tenge. However, under the scammers' direction, the woman agreed to sell her home for 12 million tenge—a price reportedly half of its market value.

During the court proceedings, the woman's lawyer requested the annulment of the transaction, offering to return the money to the buyer. However, the buyer's side refused to back out of the agreement.

The initial court recognized that the woman had been defrauded and declared the sale and purchase agreement invalid. However, in an appellate court decision, this ruling was overturned, and a decision was made to evict the woman from her home. The court cited a lack of evidence proving the buyer's involvement in the scammers' scheme.

Lawyer Yevgeny Goncharov has appealed this decision to the cassation court, arguing that the court failed to consider the woman's vulnerable status as a single elderly person and the significantly undervalued sale price of her home.

Expert Opinions

Real estate agents and notaries confirm that such cases are unfortunately common. Scammers frequently target elderly individuals living alone, posing as police officers, bank employees, or representatives of special services to build trust.

Experts urge the public to remain vigilant and avoid suspicious transactions. If any doubts arise, it is crucial to consult with relatives, lawyers, or notaries.