The thought stops: who becomes a courier for scammers and why
The Interior Ministry reported on the active detention of couriers working for fraudsters: in 10 days, it was possible to identify and catch about 120 people who took money from defrauded citizens. Most of these suspects are imperfect teenagers and students. Izvestia found out who becomes couriers and why, and what responsibility they face.
Portrait of a fraud courier
Couriers who transfer money from defrauded Russians to fraudsters are being actively detained in Russia. In just 10 days, the police identified about 120 suspects in such crimes, the Department for Combating the Illegal Use of Information and Communication Technologies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported.
According to the Telegram channel of the Bulletin of the Cyber Police of Russia, they were mostly young people aged 17 to 25 years old, without higher education. Another category is those with previous convictions over the age of 40. Most of the detainees turned out to be men, but there were also girls among them.
As a rule, fraudsters hired nonresident couriers who easily moved between regions (for example, Samara and Saratov), and the end point became cities with millions of inhabitants, for example, Moscow, Kazan or Novosibirsk. The "workers" were lured by the promise of easy money (100 thousand rubles for one operation or 10% of the total amount).
"Many of the detainees mentioned serious financial difficulties: loans secured by a car, debts, and the inability to find legal income," the department noted.
The criminals transferred the victims' money further through anonymous chains, sometimes using cryptocurrencies or front persons. At the same time, some were given fake documents and funds to change their wardrobe, and paid for travel expenses. The Interior Ministry stressed that such "work" usually ends with detention and then detention, even of minors. After that, they face a prison term and the obligation to pay compensation to victims.
How scammers find couriers
As lawyer Sean Betrozov explains to Izvestia, fraudsters usually recruit couriers via the Internet. The main platforms are popular social networks, as well as job sites and bulletin boards. Ads are served under the guise of regular jobs with names like "logistics coordinator", "courier", "delivery assistant", "cash handling". The description indicates a high income, flexible schedule, fast payment and no formal requirements. The correspondence takes place in private messages. Clarifying details are revealed after the person shows interest.
— Young people who do not have permanent jobs and sources of income are chosen as the main group. Most often these are students, legal couriers, taxi drivers, the temporarily unemployed, and migrants. Many of them have debts, loans, and rental obligations. They don't have a critical assessment, it's important for them to get the money quickly, rather than delve into the details," says the lawyer.
Sometimes, adds Alla Khrapunova, an expert of the Popular Front for Borrowers' Rights project and curator of the Moshelovka platform, couriers are recruited through word of mouth among like-minded people or teenagers united by some interests (common studies, hobbies, sections, living in a dormitory). The main motive is money and the desire to become independent of their parents as soon as possible, and for teenagers from poor families to buy good clothes and gadgets.
An additional role is played by the psychological factor. The first task may seem safe. Orders to take a package, take money, and transfer documents look like ordinary logistics. But after successful completion, the person receives the payment and makes sure that it really works. After that, it becomes more difficult to refuse. There is dependence on income and fear of losing the source of money. Some continue, even suspecting that the work is illegal.
Why scammers involve teenagers
Fraudsters often attract teenagers to their schemes for several reasons, explains Elena Yarikova, Candidate of Psychological Sciences, psychologist, to Izvestia. They have reduced critical thinking, little life experience, and almost always do not have enough money for things, recreation, and entertainment. At the same time, the media shows them rich peers who, without working a day in their lives, have become successful. This can stimulate the desire to get everything at once, without much effort, which is what criminals promise.
— The scammers' proposals themselves are always formulated in such a way that the victim understands what he is getting into as late as possible. The child may be convinced that everyone earns this way now, that the police do not respond to couriers in any way. Of course, the real consequences of this activity and its illegality are kept silent," says the psychologist.
Besides, adds Yarikova, scammers can use pressure. They force you to make a decision here and now, without leaving time to think and sensibly weigh all the facts — "there will be no other chance, an answer is needed immediately."
In order to protect a teenager from falling into such schemes, the psychologist recommends creating a warm and trusting relationship with him, in which the main thing is to talk to the child, often and without condemnation.
— No one likes to be lectured, especially by teenagers. However, if a child knows that he will not be judged, no matter what he says, but will be listened to, there is a better chance that he will not get into trouble," the Izvestia interlocutor believes. — The second point is that it is important to strengthen a teenager's sense of self-worth and self-confidence. Children who know that their value does not depend on material wealth or the opinions of their peers are less likely to get involved in dangerous adventures.
Finally, it is important to warn teenagers about possible risks. You need to tell them how the schemes work and what responsibility is provided for participating in them. And the fact that ignorance, like age, will not free you from it.
How scammers use couriers
Couriers are most often used in telephone and remote fraud schemes. The victim is called ostensibly on behalf of a bank employee, the police or the prosecutor's office, convinced that his funds are in danger, and offered to transfer the money to a "representative" who arrives — this is the courier. He comes to the victim, calls the code word, receives cash and takes it further, sometimes transfers it through an ATM or exchanges it for cryptocurrency. Couriers also transfer bank cards, SIM cards and forged documents. Some take the money to other cities. All communication takes place in messengers.
— The courier knows only his site, has no information about other participants in the scheme and does not contact the organizers directly. Payment is made either immediately or after several tasks. Sometimes they promise reimbursement for transportation or meals. But there are cases when the courier remains without paying for his services," says lawyer Sean Betrozov.
As Alla Khrapunova notes, many couriers are not fully aware of what they are doing. More precisely, they do not want to dive in and think about the essence, prerequisites and the real purpose of the work they are doing. Couriers are often given tasks in receiving and handing over parcels in other cities, which is explained, for example, by "insurance against meeting with familiar people." Some employees have doubts, but they hesitate to ask questions, believing that ignorance absolves them of responsibility — in practice, this is not the case.
Can couriers not understand that they are committing a crime
According to experts interviewed by Izvestia, couriers may not know what they are involved in until the beginning of the scheme. If a person has completed one task and received payment, they may not really understand the essence of their work. He could have been told that he was helping to fight fraudsters, delivering documents or escorting the client's money. However, with repeated tasks, the situation changes.
— If a person repeatedly receives money from the elderly, uses code words, acts without registration, hides his identity, then he cannot but understand that he is involved in a crime. A good—faith misconception is losing its force," says lawyer Sean Betrozov.
In the future, he explains, the investigation and the court assesses the courier's behavior in a complex. The content of correspondence, travel routes, the nature of contacts, and the number of episodes are taken into account. If it turns out that a person followed instructions received through anonymous channels and acted according to a pattern, his participation is recognized as conscious.
During the investigation, police officers analyze a person's correspondence in messengers, data from surveillance cameras, call recordings, victim testimony, bank and mobile transactions. If the courier transferred money to third parties or transferred funds without any documents, receipts, receipts or confirmations of the transfer, this indicates his awareness. It is especially important how many times he performed such actions. One episode can be explained as a mistake. Two or more will be considered a system.
What penalties are provided for couriers
Couriers involved in the schemes most often fall under Part 4 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation — fraud committed by a group of individuals or on an especially large scale. The maximum penalty for this crime is imprisonment for up to 10 years. If there are signs of an organized criminal community, Article 210 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation — criminal community may be applied. In this case, the term is extended to 20 years. If the courier used forged documents, participated in cashing out funds, or transferred money abroad, other articles may be added.
— Even people who have not previously been convicted receive real sentences. Couriers are sentenced from three to seven years in prison," says lawyer Sean Betrozov. Minors can be sent to educational institutions. Additionally, the court imposes on them the obligation to compensate the victims. Criminal record complicates employment, visa processing, and education. In some cases, couriers are charged with legalizing the proceeds of crime.
Practice shows that it is couriers who most often become the main defendants in criminal cases. The organizers behind the scheme remain in the shadows. They use anonymous accounts, operate from other countries, change numbers regularly, and avoid direct contact. Therefore, law enforcement agencies are faced with the impossibility of detaining them.
— It turns out that the courier is the only participant in the scheme who can be identified, interrogated and brought to justice. It is he who remains on the video recordings from the cameras, leaves traces, and is identified by the victims. All this is recorded and then turned into evidence," said Alla Khrapunova, an expert at Moshelovka.
For this reason, the brunt of the punishment falls on the perpetrator. Even if he has received minimal remuneration, his actions are considered as co-fulfillment. Anyone who actually designs and coordinates a crime can go unpunished.
The government uses an integrated approach in the fight against couriers. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Investigative Committee, the Prosecutor's Office and the Bank of Russia are working together to identify and stop schemes involving couriers and droppers. Operational measures are being carried out, devices are being seized, and accounts are being blocked. Banks have been granted the right to suspend transfers and verify the basis of transactions. Telecom operators are required to provide information about the owners of SIM cards involved in fraud.
In addition, Betrozov adds, amendments to the Criminal Code and the Code of Administrative Offenses are currently being discussed. It is planned to clarify the status of technical intermediaries and expand the grounds for confiscation of property obtained from mediation in criminal schemes. This will not only restrain the growth of the number of people involved, but also destroy the economic basis of fraud.
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