A serial thief from Russia is targeting her fellow citizens on the resort island of Bali in Indonesia after befriending them in Russian-language online groups, according to the Russian Telegram news outlet Baza.
The woman allegedly gained access to private accommodations by tricking tourists into hosting her overnight before fleeing with their personal belongings, including clothes, jewellery, and valuables.
One of the victims, identified by the pseudonym Maria, said her acquaintance with the suspect began in a local Russian-language chat group. Shortly after they began messaging, the suspect asked to stay at Maria's villa for the night, claiming that she had recently been evicted from her own accommodation. Maria agreed to shelter her, but the guest vanished during her very first night in the house.
When Maria woke up, she discovered that the guest had taken her clothing, silver jewellery, and several other valuable personal items.
Bali, an island province of Indonesia located in Southeast Asia, has grown into a major destination for international tourists, digital nomads, and foreign residents. The island hosts a sizeable Russian-speaking community, many of whom rely on dedicated Telegram channels to organize shared housing, hire local services, and share travel advice.
Targeting foreign visitors
After realizing she had been robbed, Maria connected with other Russian tourists in the area and learned that the suspect had used the exact same approach against another fellow citizen. Determined to recover their stolen property, a group of victims organized an ambush to confront the suspect and retrieve their belongings.
As news of the incident spread across local online channels, several more victims came forward with similar accounts. One holidaymaker reported lending the suspect a significant sum of money to purchase items for her son, only to find herself blocked on messaging platforms a few hours later.
Another victim, who works locally as an eyelash technician, said the suspect booked a cosmetic procedure and departed immediately after the service was completed without paying for the work.
Criminal activity across Southeast Asia
Baza, a popular Russian digital news channel that reports extensively on law enforcement news, noted that criminal incidents involving Russian nationals have occasionally emerged across popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia.
In a separate regional case reported by Russian media, a Russian man was placed on a wanted list after leading a criminal syndicate in Vietnam. That group lured Russian-speaking tourists into hotel rooms before physically assaulting them to steal their money.
Victims on Bali continue to circulate warnings across social media networks to prevent other travellers from hosting unverified acquaintances.
