The lawyer warned Russians against accidental droppery

Recently, cases of citizens, including minors, being involved in droppery schemes — mediation in illegal financial transactions - have become more frequent. Denis Tsyplakov, a lawyer and chairman of the VM-Pravo Bar Association, told Izvestia on March 16 about how to avoid participating in such crimes and protect himself and his children.

"Droppery is the mediation of illegal financial transactions. Droppers can receive and forward money or parcels received as a result of fraud, without suspecting that they are involved in criminal activity, or they do it consciously in order to earn easy money," Tsyplakov explained.

The expert noted that there is currently no punishment for transferring one's bank card to another person. 187 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (on the sale of counterfeit payment cards or electronic media) have not been widely used due to contradictions in interpretation. However, the Ministry of Internal Affairs plans to resolve this issue legally.

"If money fraudulently received was credited to your card and you returned it at the sender's request, criminal liability is unlikely unless intent is proven. Accidental involvement in fraud, such as losing a card without blocking it, also does not entail liability if there is no evidence of your awareness of the crime. However, if the card is transferred for a fee and you suspect that it will be used for illegal transactions, this may be regarded as complicity," the lawyer warned.

The expert paid special attention to the protection of children, who are most at risk of being involved in such schemes due to their gullibility and lack of knowledge about financial literacy. It is important not to accept suspicious offers from unfamiliar numbers. You should also check information and teach children not to believe everything they read on the Internet or hear from strangers, as well as develop their financial literacy skills.

"To minimize risks, it is important to combine technical measures, such as the use of children's cards, with educational ones. Teach children the basics of financial security, develop critical thinking, and maintain trusting relationships. This will help them avoid dangerous situations and make the right choice," Tsyplakov concluded.

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Last year, in December, the Central Bank said that in the third quarter of 2024, banks protected customers from 16.1 million attacks by online fraudsters, preventing them from stealing 4.9 trillion rubles. At the same time, they reported that the fraudsters still managed to steal 9.3 billion rubles in July–September.