A Pike County man has been charged with fraud after allegedly scamming another man out of $45,000 in a fake diamond business scheme.
Boris Abayev, of Milford, reportedly convinced the victim to enter a business agreement in early 2025, promising profits from buying diamonds in Africa and reselling them in New York. The victim wired Abayev $45,000 as a business investment.
According to investigators, Abayev traveled to Africa in March 2025, claiming he was purchasing diamonds. He later told the victim that African authorities had seized both the $45,000 investment and $129,000 of his own money.
When the victim tried to recover his funds, Abayev allegedly turned the tables and accused the victim of staging the arrest and demanded repayment.
A search warrant for Abayev’s bank account revealed the full $45,000 transfer and multiple withdrawals totaling the same amount, suggesting no legitimate business activity had taken place.
Abayev now faces theft and fraud-related charges. Authorities continue to investigate the full extent of the alleged scheme.
