In Moscow police have detained suspects in connection with running a call centre whose staff siphoned money from citizens’ bank accounts, according to the local Ministry of Internal Affairs.
During conversations with potential victims, the suspects posed as bank security staff. They obtained confidential information from clients and gained access to their accounts.
To launder the victims’ funds, the criminal group bought expensive digital hardware in online stores, which it then sold. Part of the stolen money was converted into cryptocurrency.
The police learned of the call centre’s activities from one of the victims, who had more than 2.8 million rubles stolen.
Investigators detained 12 couriers, who, according to the investigation, processed orders paid for with the victim’s bank cards. Another detainee, allegedly, coordinated the distribution of orders among the couriers and the transfer of funds into cryptocurrency.
All suspects are remanded in custody pending the investigation.
According to preliminary data, more than 70 people were victims of the criminals.
The police opened a criminal case into the organisation of a criminal group and are identifying all participants in the scheme.
Earlier, in December 2019, Thai police arrested 24 call-centre staff linked to a cryptocurrency scam.
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