They went to the base: how will the 100k transfer limit work for drops?
If a person is limited to transfers of 100,000 rubles per month due to being included in the Central Bank's drop database, then they need to apply to the bank and confirm that they did not have any malicious intent when transferring the card to a third party. Such explanations were given to Izvestia by the Association for the Development of Literacy. New rules regarding people whose cards were used by scammers to steal and withdraw money will come into force on May 15. According to credit organizations, the measure will make the "recruitment" of Russians for such actions less profitable, but it will not completely solve the problem of fraud.
Who will be limited to transfers of 100 thousand rubles per month from May 15
In Russia, new restrictions will appear to combat drops — people whose cards are used to withdraw funds stolen by fraudsters. At the same time, bank clients could provide assistance in scams either unintentionally or for selfish purposes.
The Central Bank maintains a special database that contains information about drops. It is formed on the basis of information from banks about all cases and attempts of fraud. That is, if a person informed a credit institution that he had sent a transfer under the influence of intruders, and as a result the money was stolen, the recipient's account would end up in the regulator's database.
In addition, it takes into account information from law enforcement agencies — for example, if a person wrote a statement to the police and reported a fraudulent transfer to a certain account.
The drop database is closed. The Bank of Russia does not say how many accounts it contains. As German Zubarev, deputy chairman of the Central Bank, stated in an interview with Izvestia back in 2023, this system contained tens of thousands of Russian accounts. About 80,000 Russian and foreign citizens become drops every month, the regulator said as early as 2025.
Currently, the bank has the right, but is not obligated, to restrict the validity of the card or access to the personal account to customers from the drop database. However, new measures will come into force on May 15.: such people will not be able to make transfers to themselves or other people for more than 100 thousand rubles per month.
According to the Central Bank, this limit will allow bona fide clients who got into the database accidentally or unintentionally turned out to be accomplices of fraudsters to repay debts and perform vital operations without difficulty and not engage in questionable transfers. In addition, the restriction does not apply to transfers to legal entities. This means that people will be able to continue shopping in stores and marketplaces, and pay bills.
If it becomes necessary to transfer more than 100 thousand rubles, the customer from the database must contact the servicing bank with an application and a passport.
Now the actions of drops can fall under several articles at once. For example, under Article 159 of the Criminal Code ("Fraud"), a person may face a fine of up to 1 million rubles or imprisonment for up to 10 years, and under Article 210 of the Criminal Code ("Participation in a criminal community"), imprisonment may be extended to 20 years.
How to log out of the drop database
Both adults and teenagers can become accomplices of scammers, that is, drops, unexpectedly for themselves. For example, as German Zubarev from the Central Bank told Izvestia, fraudsters spread advertising on social networks: allegedly under the guise of banks that need to fulfill a "sales plan", they offer people to issue any card and transfer it to certain persons for a fee — for example, for 3 thousand rubles.
— Then network marketing is turned on: teenagers are offered another 2 thousand rubles if they bring a friend with a card. In this way, children are massively involved in droppery. In some cases, a teenager does not physically transfer plastic to a fraudster, but provides him with card details and access codes to online banking," explained German Zubarev.
Another example is that scammers contact a person and offer them to rent a "card" for a certain amount and then make payments through it.
The Central Bank reminded us how not to become a drop. Bank customers are not allowed to transfer a self-issued card to strangers, provide online banking access to someone, or transfer money that was allegedly mistakenly credited to their account.
If a person nevertheless found himself in the database of the regulator and his access to online services was restricted or a ban on transfers of more than 100 thousand rubles per month was imposed, he can appeal this decision, the Central Bank recalled. To do this, you need to apply to any of the banks that the person is a client of.
"The financial institution will conduct an investigation and, after verifying the client's integrity, initiate a so—called appeal procedure, including a dispute request to the Bank of Russia," the Association for the Development of Literacy (ARFG) explained to Izvestia.
They clarified: the statement should refute that the person had selfish goals when transferring the card to the fraudster, that is, there was no reward for transferring the card, its data, withdrawing funds received or providing access to online banking. If the card was stolen (and the PIN code was written on it), you need to contact the bank as soon as possible to block it.
— The more time passes, the more doubt there is that the card fell into the hands of fraudsters by accident. If a person became a drop as a result of coercion (for example, money was sent to him by phone number, intimidated and forced to go to an ATM, withdraw it and give it to a courier), then, unfortunately, it is difficult to help here: according to the law, in this case it was necessary to contact at least the bank, and then the police. in the ARFG.
You can also apply directly to the Central Bank's online reception, the regulator added.
If the Bank of Russia makes a positive decision to lift restrictions on the drop, the credit institution will do so as soon as possible, Zenit assured.
Will restrictions on drops help fight scammers
The changes coming into force for drops reduce the attractiveness of schemes involving front persons, according to the Vice president for information security at Dom Bank.Russian Federation" Dmitry Nikishov. However, the new measure will not be a panacea, VTB says. It is aimed at specific groups of intruders, will help to increase the level of security and protect bona fide customers. But scammers never sit still, they will use other schemes, Absolut Bank warned.
— We do not consider this measure to be effective, since information about the drop is included in the Bank of Russia directory after the fact — after at least one fraud has been committed. In our opinion, legislative regulation of the mechanism for returning suspended transfers could be a more effective tool," said Igor Kosoburov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Zenit Bank.
At the same time, the turnover of transfers in the market will temporarily decrease, according to Absolut Bank. On the contrary, the burden on financial organizations will increase, as they will have to limit account transactions more actively and consider appeals.
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