Fraudsters created an illegal virtual communication center, which was used by Ukrainian call centers. The money, through a chain of financial transactions, was accumulated in Ukrainian banks and went to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Foreign banks paid for communication services and maintenance of the scammers’ equipment.
“According to preliminary data, using only one communication center, more than 7 billion rubles were stolen from Russian citizens,” the FSB reports.
Five members of the criminal group were identified and detained, charges were brought against them, and they were taken into custody.
In February 2023, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Sberbank Stanislav Kuznetsov called Dnepropetrovsk the “capital” of telephone scammers.