MIA: "clone" companies steal over million roubles of utility payments from residents of Stavropol Territory

Nikolai Zhigun, the head of the investigatory division for the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD) of the Russian MIA, has announced the completion of the inquiry of the criminal case initiated against the head of the cash-settlement centre of the city of Caucasian Mineral Waters (CMW), Stavropol Territory, who, according to the investigation, had stolen over one million roubles from the population.

"In CMW, criminals set up dummy (clone) companies in the housing utilities sector. Citizens came to pay their bills to the cash-settlement department, but in fact their money went to clone companies. In the end, they were deprived of services. The clones were named similarly to real companies; and people were in a mess. For example, the clone was named 'Housing and Comfort', while the real company was named 'HouseComfort CMW'," said Mr Zhigun.

He has added that the money went through the cash-settlement centre, where the boss knew that people were paying to clones, the "Interfax" reports.

According to Nikolai Zhigunov, one of the residents, being notified about his utility debts, turned to the police. Scammers, he said, continued sending bills to people from October to December 2010, the RIA "Novosti" reports.

"In this manner, they managed to steal about 1.3 million roubles," said Zhigun. The number of victims was not specified.

The criminal case against the head of the cash-settlement centre has been forwarded to the prosecutor's office for approval of the indictment. He is at risk of a long imprisonment.