Illegal activities were stopped by Russian MVD operatives in cooperation with Moscow region investigators and FSB officers.

According to preliminary information, the detained residents of Krasnodar Krai and Moscow Region, suspected of fraud, were providing financial services to telephone scammers from Ukrainian call centers.

The criminals received, cashed out, and converted into cryptocurrency money obtained from people deceived by scammers, after which they transferred it to their clients.

The financiers rented an apartment in the city of Odintsovo in Moscow Region and organized a 24/7 office there for uninterrupted operation. At any time, they could come to ATMs and withdraw money before the accounts began to be blocked.

During the search, bank cards and mobile phones, office equipment, money, and various documents were found on the suspects. Analysis of the seized items led law enforcement to conclude that the daily turnover of stolen money amounted to about 10 million rubles.

Investigators tracked down the criminals during the investigation of fraud cases involving residents of Moscow Region. One man transferred over 247 thousand rubles to scammers after receiving a message allegedly from his son. In another case, the mother of a military service participant transferred over 30 thousand rubles to an unknown person posing as a Ukrainian Armed Forces serviceman in order to speak with her son, who was allegedly in captivity.

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Kuban

Kuban is a historical and geographical region in southern Russia, centered around the Kuban River. It was traditionally inhabited by Circassian peoples before becoming a Cossack settlement in the late 18th century, serving as a frontier for the Russian Empire. Today, it is known for its agricultural fertility and distinct local culture.

Moscow region

The Moscow region (officially Moscow Oblast) is the vast federal subject surrounding but not including the capital city of Moscow. Historically, it was the core of the medieval state of Muscovy and is densely dotted with ancient towns, monasteries, and estates that played crucial roles in Russian history, such as the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius in Sergiev Posad. Today, it is a major industrial and scientific hub, characterized by a mix of historic sites and modern urban developments.

Krasnodar Krai

Krasnodar Krai is a federal subject and important agricultural region in southern Russia, located on the eastern coast of the Black Sea. Historically, it was known as the Kuban region and was a Cossack territory, settled by the Black Sea Cossacks in the late 18th century after being annexed from the Ottoman Empire. Today, it is a major economic and tourist hub, famous for its resorts on the Black Sea coast, such as Sochi.

Odintsovo

Odintsovo is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, which historically began as a small settlement in the late 14th century, named after the boyar Andrey Odinets. It grew significantly in the 19th century with the construction of the Moscow-Smolensk railway and was granted city status in 1957. Today, it is primarily known as a major suburban residential and economic hub near Moscow.

Ukrainian call centers

Ukrainian call centers are modern business process outsourcing (BPO) hubs that have developed significantly since the early 2000s, leveraging the country’s highly educated, multilingual workforce. They provide customer service, technical support, and sales operations primarily for European and North American companies. This industry has grown due to its competitive cost advantages and strong cultural affinity with Western markets.

Russian MVD

The Russian MVD (Ministry of Internal Affairs) is the government ministry responsible for policing, internal security, and migration control in Russia. Its history dates back to 1802 when it was established by Tsar Alexander I, making it one of the oldest state institutions in the country. Throughout its existence, it has been a central pillar of state power, evolving from the imperial-era Ministry of Police to its current form.

FSB

“FSB” refers to the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, the principal state security agency and main successor to the Soviet-era KGB. It was officially formed in 1995 and is responsible for counter-intelligence, internal security, and combating terrorism. The FSB plays a central and powerful role in Russia’s political system.

Ukrainian Armed Forces

The Ukrainian Armed Forces are the military forces of Ukraine, established in 1991 following the country’s independence from the Soviet Union. They have played a central role in defending Ukraine’s sovereignty, most notably during the ongoing conflict with Russia that began with the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and escalated into a full-scale invasion in 2022.