(WBRE/WYOU) — A Pike County man faces charges of fraud for allegedly running a fake diamond business that scammed another man out of $45,000.
Boris Abayev of Milford allegedly entered into a business agreement with the victim in early 2025 in which they would buy diamonds from Africa and resell them in New York for profit, according to the criminal complaint.
Officials say the victim paid Abayev $45,000 as a business investment, believing he would be paid back and obtain additional profits.
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Abayev traveled to Africa in March 2025, supposedly to buy the diamonds, but later claimed that authorities had confiscated the money the victim gave him, as well as $129,000 of his own funds, the criminal complaint states.
The victim attempted multiple times to contact Abayev and get his money back, officials say. Abayev eventually turned it on the victim and began accusing him of staging the arrest and demanded that the victim pay him back.
According to officials, a search warrant served on Abayev's bank account showed the $45,000 wired to him by the victim as well as several subsequent withdrawals totaling the same amount.
Abayev faces theft-related charges along with other related charges.
