Suspects Detained for Theft from Bank Accounts in St. Petersburg

Police in St. Petersburg have detained a group of individuals accused of stealing funds from Russians' bank accounts using old mobile numbers.

Feb 14, 2026

The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs oversees law enforcement efforts against cyber fraud in the country.
Source:
Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia

On January 26, law enforcement agencies in St. Petersburg detained several people on suspicion of a series of thefts of money from citizens« bank accounts.

Fraudsters exploited recycled mobile numbers to access bank accounts and steal funds.

According to the investigation, the criminals used mobile numbers that previously belonged to other people and were put back up for sale by telecom operators. Using special software, they collected such numbers and registered them under straw persons.

Having gained access to a number, the fraudsters logged into mobile banking applications and checked the accounts of the previous owners. If funds were found, the money was immediately transferred to controlled accounts. If the account was empty, the fraudsters attempted to apply for a loan in the owner«s name and withdraw the approved amount.

The total damage from the group«s actions exceeded 15 million rubles (approximately $166,700 at current rates). All suspects are in custody.

It was previously reported that new measures to combat cyber fraud in Russia may come into force as early as September this year.