Gang member detained in Urals for thefts exceeding 15 million
Law enforcement officers have detained members of a criminal group involved in stealing money from bank cards. The suspects were taken into custody in the Sverdlovsk Region and St. Petersburg.
The official representative of the Russian Interior Ministry published a video of the detention.
“During searches, mobile phones, laptops, bank and SIM cards, as well as money totaling more than 1.7 million rubles (approx. $19,000 at current rates) were seized. The detainees have been preliminarily linked to at least 100 episodes of illegal activity in various regions of the country,” said Irina Volk, official representative of the Russian Interior Ministry.
A criminal case has been initiated regarding the thefts. Police officers are currently determining the total number of criminal episodes and identifying possible accomplices in the scheme.
“According to available information, one of the perpetrators used special software to collect phone numbers put up for sale by mobile operators. He passed the obtained lists to his accomplice, who registered them in the names of third parties. Then, through a mobile banking app, they checked the accounts for money left by previous users. Upon finding a positive balance, the funds were transferred to accounts under their control,” said Irina Volk.
If there was no money in the accounts, the fraudsters took out loans in the names of the previous owners. The total damage from the criminal group’s actions exceeded 15 million rubles (approx. $167,000 at current rates).
