FSB reveals scammers stealing millions of dollars through call centers

In Moscow, call-centers that deceived tens of thousands of citizens from more than 20 countries have been revealed. This was reported in the Public Relations Center (PRC) of the Federal Security Service of Russia on December 11.

"Illegal activities of an organized criminal group that controlled the operation of three offices of "call-centers" on the territory of Moscow, structurally included in the international network of fraudsters, controlled by the wanted leader of the organized crime group "Khimprom" Yegor Burkin," the report says.

It is established that employees of call-centers through telephone conversations stole money under the guise of investment activity. Preliminary, the victims were several tens of thousands of citizens from more than 20 foreign countries, including Germany, Poland, France, Turkey, Japan and others.

Law enforcement officers were able to detain the managers and a number of employees of the "call centers". During the searches they seized a large amount of computer equipment and means of communication.

A criminal case under part 4 of article 159 of the Criminal Code of the RF ("Fraud on a large scale") has been initiated on this fact.

Earlier, on December 9, the FSB detained employees of the Russian branch of the international network of call centers, who were engaged in fraud against citizens of foreign countries under the guise of investment transactions. It is specified that the crimes were committed against citizens of the European Union (EU) countries, as well as the UK, Canada, Brazil, India and Japan.

It was specified that the international group, which covered its activities with investment deals, deceived about 100 thousand people in more than 50 countries. Its income per day amounted to about $1 million. Later, the FSB shared footage of the detention.

It was reported that within the framework of the criminal case the FSB detained a total of 11 people - managers and employees of Russian call centers. They are charged under Article 210 ("Organization of a criminal association"), Part 4 of Article 159 ("Fraud on a large scale") and Part 3 of Article 207 ("Knowingly false report of an act of terrorism") of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.