Sometimes stories happen that seem made up. These are fateful decrees, says my friend O. from the Zaporizhia region. She asks if I can come over for lunch during the lunch break. Out of gratitude that they are allowed to live in the apartment of our German colleague without paying the rent, she and her husband spoil me and my colleagues. But I don’t have time that day, I’m traveling with two colleagues. O. mentions in passing that two women are moving into the house, they’ve been sitting in front of the house entrance for a while, waiting for the landlord.
Two hours later, O. texts me again. “Have you already rented your apartment? I think the women have come across a scam. So far no one has appeared, they have been sitting in front of the house for over four hours and have now called the police.” I call O. She reports on the current status: Twice she asked the women if they needed help. They denied it, just asking permission to use the toilet and charge the phone. They are mother and daughter, they come from Cherson, have been in Bucharest since the beginning of the war and now want to move to Chernivtsi because the daughter has decided to study at the university there. She wants to study environmental sciences. They found the advert on OLX, the well-known ad portal, and transferred the money for three months in advance. It looked believable, with a photo of a general. They arrived today from Romania, first someone answered the phone and they said the apartment owners were on their way, just a little late. Then no one could reach the number and they contacted the police. She is there now and is talking to the two of them, but the prospects are poor.
The photograph of a “general” is the worst abuse of military authority
At the latest when the word “General” is mentioned, I’m also sure that the two were cheated. I can also post an ad with a photo of the First Lady or General Zalushny, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. OLX does not check anything. A scam that has been around for a long time: promise a nice apartment, collect money and disappear. There are compatriots who profit from the suffering and misery of others. This unscrupulousness is abominable, and I wish, after my first thought was a bit more radical, that these people would one day find themselves in such a situation and then there would be no one to help them. The photograph of a “general” is also the worst abuse of military authority. For months now, the greatest trust in the country has been placed in the Ukrainian armed forces. How can you be so naive, I think. But all the excitement doesn’t help. Our old townhouse is actually still available, O. knows I plan to find new tenants after the students move out. The services of an electrician and a plumber would still be required there, but in principle one can live in the apartment. I promise to come immediately after closing time, there’s still an hour until then.
When I come, the police are still there. They only want to know from me where the alternative accommodation is, they don’t ask for my personal data. O.’s husband offers to be the driver, O. comes along. We’re going with our daughter N. She’s supposed to take a look at the apartment first. The mother is waiting on the street with her belongings, the police stay with her. N. thinks the apartment is good, so the mother follows with all the luggage. They are beautiful, chic suitcases and bags, both women look intelligent and do not appear angry or desperate, rather overtired and amazed. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” says the mother. I explain a few things, I don’t have time for more that evening, I have to travel the next morning. We agree that the two of them will use the apartment first and that we will decide what to do after I return. I ask the mother for the passport. She has the same surname as a well-known Soviet plant breeder, by her surname and patronymic she is a namesake of O. I remember that well. Then we exchange phone numbers, say goodbye, and as thanks, O. and her husband get another bottle of limoncello. They traveled extensively in Western Europe, adds the new Cherson-O. added.
When I was traveling in Romania the next morning, I received a message from an unknown Spanish number. “Oxana, this is O. from your apartment, I am sending you the full copy of my passport so that you know that I am a normal person. Thank you for helping us, we will do the payment immediately when we get back are.” “Come on, relax,” I text back. “I’m trying to organize an electrician and a plumber through my colleagues.”