The Ministry of Internal Affairs proposed to introduce criminal penalties for helping bank fraudsters

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia has developed a bill that provides for criminal penalties for those who help fraudsters withdraw funds stolen from the accounts of Russians. Those who transmit, use or provide access to electronic means of payment can face criminal penalties. Deputy Minister-Head of the Investigation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Sergei Lebedev sent a corresponding letter to Senator Artem Sheikin.

According to the letter, which RIA Novosti has read, the draft law proposes to introduce Art. 187.1. Under this article, criminal liability will be provided for persons responsible for the transfer, acquisition, use of an electronic means of payment or providing access to it. An exception will be cases when actions performed with an electronic means of payment are carried out in the legitimate interests of its holder. For approval, the Ministry of Internal Affairs sent the draft to the federal government.

In 2022, the Bank of Russia reported an increase in the activity of banking fraudsters. In November, the regulator identified more than 110 thousand attackers, which was the highest figure since 2019. In the first quarter of this year, a record was also set for theft of funds from bank customers – more than 4.5 billion rubles. July 24, 2023 Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law that obliges banks operating in the country to check all transfers of individuals in case of suspected fraud, as well as to suspend suspicious transactions for two days.

More details – in the material “Kommersant FM” “Banks will look after transfers”.

Milena Kostereva