In Russia, it's illegal to engage in droppery, a practice involving fraudulently leaving items with the intention of deceiving the finder into believing they've found a valuable or abandoned item.
In a significant move to combat financial crimes, the State Duma of Russia has approved a law imposing criminal responsibility on individuals known as 'droppers'. This legislation, which introduces criminal liability specifically targeting droppers involved in bank card fraud, is a rare instance of holding these individuals accountable for their actions.
Droppers are individuals who allow fraudsters to use their bank cards to cash out stolen funds. Under this new law, droppers face up to six years in prison and fines of up to 1 million rubles. The law applies to individuals who willingly participate in the transfer of stolen funds.
The new law aims to combat financial crimes involving droppers in Russia. It has been designed to disrupt the chain of fraud by targeting the often overlooked role of droppers, thereby tightening the legal net around all parties involved in card fraud operations.
People can become droppers by selling or renting out their cards and accounts, losing access to their own details due to fraud, or agreeing to a friend's request to transfer money or return an erroneous transfer. Fraudsters then transfer money from these intermediate accounts to other participants in criminal schemes.
The court in Khabarovsk Region has set a precedent for holding droppers accountable for their involvement in financial crimes. In a recent case, a dropper was ordered by the court to return stolen funds with interest. This order is a result of the dropper's involvement in financial crimes.
The law seeks to deter individuals from becoming droppers by imposing severe penalties. First-time offenders who actively assist in the investigation can avoid criminal liability, which aims to encourage collaboration with law enforcement and possibly reduce the network of fraudsters through intelligence gathering.
This legislative move aligns with broader efforts in the region to combat cybercrime and financial fraud, including measures seen in neighboring countries focusing on joint liability for infrastructure providers and tighter controls on fraudulent transactions. The law’s introduction signals a significant step toward cracking down on organized fraud networks by penalizing both primary perpetrators and their enablers.
The news is reported by the "Khabarovsk Krai Today" news agency, citing "Izvestia". This development underscores Russia's commitment to addressing financial crimes and ensuring a safer digital environment for its citizens.
In accordance with the new law, individuals who willingly participate in the transfer of stolen funds by allowing fraudsters to use their bank cards are now facing up to six years in prison and fines of up to 1 million rubles. This legislation, aimed at combating financial crimes, particularly those involving droppers in Russia, disrupts the chain of fraud by targeting droppers and tightening the legal net around all parties involved in card fraud operations.
