Former Moscow State University professor dies by suicide after losing life savings to scammers

A former Moscow State University professor died by suicide on May 27 after scammers stole his life savings. Seventy-eight-year-old Boris Boyarintsev reportedly sold two apartments to raise more than 50 million rubles ($623,000), which he then transferred to the scammers. According to Telegram channel Baza, his body was found with a copy of a criminal case filing for fraud charges.

The state news agency TASS also reported the death, though the outlet did not release the professor's name. Boyarintsev's daughter confirmed her father’s death to the Telegram channel Ostorozhno, Novosti.

According to the Telegram channel Mash, Boyarintsev was targeted by scammers posing as Russian law enforcement officers who instructed him to transfer his savings to a “secure account.”