The State Duma adopted a bill on criminal liability for droppers in the first reading

At the plenary session on May 27, the State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted in the first reading a bill that establishes criminal liability for droppers (front persons through whom stolen money is cashed out).

The parliamentarians proposed to supplement Article 187 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Illegal circulation of funds of payments"). Thus, for transferring an electronic means of payment and access to it to another person "out of self-interest", they will be imprisoned for up to three years or fined in the amount of 100 thousand to 300 thousand rubles. Another punishment option is compulsory labor for up to 480 hours, or correctional labor for up to two years.

It may also provide for restriction of freedom for the same period or forced labor for up to three years. It is proposed to impose a similar penalty for transactions using an electronic means of payment in the interests of another person and at his direction.

Plastic cracked: dropper card offers disappeared from the black market

But this does not mean victory over fraudsters — the new measures of the Central Bank force them to switch to other ways of deceiving citizens.

The approval by the Board of Directors of the draft law on criminal liability for droppers became known on April 28. According to Vladimir Gruzdev, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Lawyers of Russia (AYUR), in order to be released from criminal prosecution, a person should actively participate in the investigation and voluntarily provide information about those to whom he has transferred access to his payment funds.

Later, on May 2, the bill was submitted to the State Duma. According to the explanatory note, it is aimed at improving the mechanisms for combating crimes committed using electronic means of payment (ESP).