19.01.2020

The BizProtect website received a report against "Ermiel" LLC on the grounds that the lottery carried out by the latter was accompanied by fraudulent advertising and fraudulent agreement.

"Let me tell you about another scam. Even after the Velvet Revolution, deceitful businessmen do not stop extorting huge sums of money from the proud citizens of the Republic of Armenia by fraud, thus increasing their trade turnover. Another question is, how do they fulfill their tax obligations after that? However, they successfully launder their dirty money through group crime: fake advertising, Thus: On the eve of the New Year holidays, many commercial organizations hold a lottery, promising an expensive gift, especially a car. I have never believed in those draws, always doubting it.

However, this time I inadvertently became a participant in the 27 December, 2019 lottery by the "Ermel" chain of stores. Everything seemed to be going well. There was no sign of fraud in the draw of cheap household appliances. However, after waiting for 4 hours on the cold street, when it was the turn of the expensive lotteries, the mechanism of subtle fraud was revealed. It turned out that during the draw of the TV and the main prize, the Mercedes car, there were 2 winning tickets for the same number.

All our efforts to prove that our ticket won were in vain, because the organizers of the game thought and realized a special scam. Along with the tickets, they demanded to write the name, surname, telephone number and e-mail address of the ticket owner. It seems to be a demand for justice. However, our explanations showed that this step is misleading and the lottery winners successfully write the data of their acquaintances on the 2nd ticket and present it as a winner.

The draw was unfair. Immediately before the draw, new coupons, which were purchased on the day of the draw were thrown into the drum, while the coupons on the terms of the draw had to be purchased by 27 December. Several coupons of the same number were distributed. The ticket number 21988, which was owned by Anahit Simonyan won the car. However, a citizen named Hasmik, accompanied by her relatives and the manager of "Ermiel" store Artash, approached the stage and announced that they had won.

Our demand to show the second part of the winning ticket and the second part of our ticket was rejected. We approached the founder of "Ermiel" LLC Ruben Melikyan and demanded justice. However, he was adamant and rejected all our demands. We assess it as a misleading advertisement, a fact of fraud committed with a criminal agreement, which is subject to criminal liability.

When I tell you about this incident, I ask you, please be careful not to fall victim to fraud.

A report on the crime has already been submitted to the RA Prosecutor's Office. If the company does not return our profit and does not compensate our moral damage in the amount of 2 million AMD, we will apply to other law enforcement bodies as well.

I urge the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Armenia to check the legality of the license of the "Ermiel" store.

I urge the State Revenue Committee of the Republic of Armenia to check the fulfillment of tax obligations by "Ermiel" store and the obligations of using cash registers."

The alert was made by Movses Aristakesyan and Anahit Simonyan. The expert team of BizProtect, studying the alert, submitted relevant notes to the RA State Revenue Committee and the RA Ministry of Finance.

The BizProtect.am website operated by the Armenian Lawyers’ Association (ALA) is a whistleblowing platform targeted at corruption and any other issues, risks and issues that
impede business activity. This site also provides opportunity for anonymous alerts.

Note: The person suspected in or accused of an alleged crime is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in the manner prescribed by the RA Criminal Procedure Code in accordance with the Court’s verdict made effective.