Police in Russia’s Volga Republic of Tatarstan detained a man who pretended to sell employment as an aide to the republic’s president, the Russian Interior Ministry said on its website on Tuesday.
The alleged conman posed as a high-ranking official and offered employment in the presidential administration and the regional cabinet for 4 million rubles (about $137,000).
A businessman from Tatarstan gave him an advance payment of 1.2 million rubles.
“He was to pay the rest of the sum after receiving documents to prove his appointment. The suspect told him that the decree to appoint him to the post was due after the March 4, 2012 elections,” the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
“On March 12, the impostor told the victim that he was included in the 'candidate pool' and had to make an urgent payment of two million rubles. The suspect was detained while receiving the money,” the statement reads.
Police seized the appointment decree as evidence, which according to preliminary information had been faked.
“At the moment, it has been established that the detainee is a pensioner and has never worked for the government at all,” the ministry said.
The suspect has been arrested and faces charges of fraud. Police say he may be guilty of other such crimes.
