Gang Member Detained in Urals Over Phone Scam

Law enforcement agencies identified members of a gang that was engaged in stealing money from bank cards. The suspects were detained in Sverdlovsk Region and St. Petersburg.

«During searches, mobile phones, laptops, bank and SIM cards were seized, as well as money totaling more than 1.7 million rubles (approximately $17,000 at current rates). The involvement of the detainees in at least 100 episodes of unlawful activity in various regions of the country has been preliminarily established», said Irina Volk, official representative of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

A criminal case has already been initiated under the article on theft. Now police officers are determining how many criminal episodes were committed in total, as well as identifying accomplices in the scheme.

«According to available data, one of the criminals, using special software, collected telephone numbers put up for sale by cellular operators. The obtained lists were passed to his accomplice, who registered them in the names of third parties. Then, through a mobile banking application, they checked for money from previous users in the accounts. Upon detecting a positive balance, the funds were transferred to controlled accounts», said Irina Volk.

If there was no money in the accounts, then a loan was taken out in the name of the previous owner of the number. The total damage amounted to more than 15 million rubles (approximately $150,000 at current rates).

Earlier, we told the story of a woman from Yekaterinburg whose bank withdrew money from a blocked card and now demands its return with interest.

All materials on how fraudsters deceive Urals residents are collected in a special section.