DENPASAR, Bali – Russian influencer Sergey Domogatsky, widely known as Mr. Terimakasih, is once again in the spotlight. After previously claiming to be a victim of kidnapping and extortion in Bali, he is now accused of being behind a cross-border investment scam worth more than Rp31 billion (around USD 1.9 million).

Read also: Russian Man ‘Mr Terimakasih’ Kidnapped and Tortured in Bali — What Happened?

At least 10 foreign nationals from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, France, and the United Arab Emirates have filed police reports with the Bali Police between October 17 and 21, 2025. The complainants allege that Domogatsky deceived them through fake luxury villa projects promoted via his Instagram account @fachwerk_domogatskogo and several companies he claimed to own, including PT Reflection Heavens Penida, PT World Class Projects, PT Best Global Solutions, and PT Bali Development Group.

According to multiple sources, the scheme involved promoting luxury villas in Nusa Penida, Kintamani, and Pecatu using professional-looking marketing materials. Victims were asked to pay in cryptocurrency (USDT) or cash in Moscow, only to discover that construction never began and communication with the company was abruptly cut off.

One of the victims, Victoria Vladimorovna from Russia, said she paid more than Rp8.4 billion in July 2022 for a villa project in Nusa Penida that never materialized. A French businessman, Chamsuddin Dudaev, also reported that the villa he financed was later sold to another buyer. Several others from Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia filed similar complaints, claiming losses ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars.

“Many people lost money and assets because they trusted a man who appeared generous and caring about Bali,” said a source familiar with the investigation. He added that most transactions involved cross-border crypto transfers, making it difficult to trace the funds.

Bali Police spokesperson Kombes Pol Ariasandy confirmed that the reports had been received. “All police reports have been officially registered and will be processed according to legal procedure,” he stated. The investigation is being handled by the Special Crime Directorate and the Cyber Crime Directorate of the Bali Police, focusing on financial flows, digital communications, and company records.

Just days earlier, Sergey had appeared in local media portraying himself as a victim of abduction and extortion by fellow Russians. Now, his role has reversed—he stands accused of leading one of Bali’s largest international investment scams involving cryptocurrency and foreign investors.

If proven, the Mr. Terimakasih case could become the biggest cross-border fraud ever handled by the Bali Police. Authorities urge the public to remain calm and allow the legal process to proceed.