in the first half of the year, the number of financial pyramids increased by 19% year-on-year – Kommersant

In the first half of 2023, the Central Bank discovered 2,449 entities with signs of illegal activity. This is 7% more than for the same period in 2022, follows from data regulator. 1139 pyramid schemes were identified, their number increased by 19% year on year. The regulator sends information about violations to law enforcement agencies and the Federal Antimonopoly Service.

From January to June, based on the results of consideration of materials sent by the Central Bank, about 70 criminal cases were initiated, more than 300 administrative ones. Access to over 5 thousand resources is limited. Nearly 60% of these projects accepted contributions in cryptocurrencies. The main growth came from short-term “pseudo-investment Internet projects”, including in instant messengers and social networks.

The Central Bank also identified about 850 illegal creditors. This is 28% more than a year earlier. More than 400 illegal professional participants were also found.

Member of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank Mikhail Mamuta in May saidthat the regulator considers it necessary to strengthen the responsibility for illegal investment advice coming from bloggers and Telegram channels. According to him, the ban on attracting money from individuals to companies not supervised by the Central Bank will also help protect the funds of Russians. Then the Central Bank launched educational project imitating the site of a financial pyramid