Belarusian family loses $78,000 in a Minsk apartment scam
A family from the Gomel region fell victim to a suspected property scam after moving to Minsk in May 2025. Victoria, who had planned to buy a two-room flat on Surganova Street, now believes the seller deceived her in a carefully planned scheme.
Victoria and her family relocated from the Gomel region with the intention of settling in the capital. Their plan involved selling their country house and using the funds to purchase an apartment in Minsk. In early 2025, they found a suitable two-bedroom flat listed for $78,000.
The seller, a 69-year-old woman, had agreed to the deal but insisted on staying in the property for another month or two. She claimed her real estate agent worked for a different agency, raising Victoria's suspicions. The older woman also avoided registering Victoria's family in the medical records at the new address—a step that would have formalised their residency.
After receiving the payment, the seller disappeared. Victoria later discovered the woman had wanted to evade mortgage repayments, leaving the family without a home. At the time, fraudulent real estate schemes in Minsk received far less public attention than they do today.
The incident left Victoria and her family without the apartment they had paid for. While no official records confirm how many similar cases occurred in Minsk between 2023 and 2025, the experience highlights the risks of property transactions without thorough verification. The seller's actions, combined with the lack of transparency, made recovery of the funds unlikely.
