This year, numerous people from Saudi Arabia traveled to Russia to watch their country’s national team compete in one of the world’s biggest sporting events, the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

However, for one Saudi fan, the visit to Russia proved to be rather costly.

A football fan from the kingdom has reportedly been scammed out of $250,000 in Russia, where the tournament is currently taking place.

The man behind the scam – identified by authorities as a Lebanese national – had promised the Saudi fan that he would organize a flight from Moscow to the southern Russian city of Volgograd for him and his friends.

Subsequently, the Saudi man handed the Lebanese suspect $110,000 and an additional $140,000 in central Moscow on June 24.

On Wednesday, according to the Interfax news agency, Russian authorities identified the Lebanese suspect, who is believed to be in his late 40s, and are now trying to locate him.

The incident happened the day before Saudi Arabia’s national team was set to play against Egypt in Volgograd in their final group stage match.

Saudi Arabia ended up winning the game with a final score of 2-1.

SOURCE : ALBILAD