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In St. Petersburg, activities of an organized criminal group, specialized on phone swindling, disrupted

The St. Petersburg Main Investigations Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia is investigating a probe into offenses committed under Part 3 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of Russia (swindling).

Investigation established that an organized group specialized on remote swindling had been acting in the city for several years. Using a service substituting subscription numbers, the group members made unidentified telephone calls to numbers of previously stolen client databases of different banks. During the conversation they misled clients about their funds and the victims made transactions to accounts controlled by the criminal group. Money from these account were transferred to a number of other accounts in order to hide traces, and then they cashed them out in ATMs of different banks. The stolen funds were accumulated and then used for cryptocurrency exchange.

At present 4 probes into swindling of over 2 million rubles are processed jointly. Investigators of the Investigative Committee of Russia in cooperation with police officers and with force protection of the National Guard officers carried out 13 searches to seize over 13 million rubles, computer equipment and documents of interest for the investigation. 12 suspects were identified, 4 of which have been detained; matters of preventive measures and charges are being decided upon. According to investigative data, monthly income of the leader of the criminal group, who lives in another country,  from illegal activities accounted for about 8 million rubles. Investigation is currently carrying out required activities to check available information about committing a number of similar offenses by members of the organized group.

We want to once again remind citizens about the necessity to be vigilant. Do not be discouraged by urges, threats and influence of phone swindlers and do not transfer money to their accounts.