Bulgaria State Seizes Property of 'Phone' Crime Boss

A picture showing evidence collected during an investigation of a phone scheme – cell phones, SIM-cards, and scripts to be used to convince the victims of the crime. Photo by BGNES

The Bulgarian Committee in charge of seizing the illegally acquired assets in favor of the state won the case to restraint the property of one the bosses of the so-called phone impostors, Zlati Nikolaev.

The Veliko Tarnovo Appellate Court ruled that the “Kushlev Committee”, named after its Head, Stoyan Kushlev, can confiscate properties valued at BGN 169 000 in the central town of Gorna Oriahovitsa – a luxurious house, part of another house, and two land plots.

Nikolaev is said to be one of the masterminds of the so-called phone crime groups terrorizing mainly the elderly in Bulgaria. In the scheme, impostors usually call the victims saying one of their loved-ones is in trouble and ask money in exchange for help.

Nikolaev had already been sentenced for such crimes. He does not have any employment history and legal income, but the probe found he had been spending large amounts of money.

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