Shadow banking

[Carding 4 Carders]

Employees of the Department of Economic Security and Anti-Corruption of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in Moscow, in cooperation with colleagues from the GUEBiPK of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, stopped the activities of an organized group, whose members are suspected of carrying out illegal banking activities.

Operatives found that the attackers organized a financial structure similar to the bank, and used it to illegally cash out funds.

The accomplices used the accounts of about 200 controlled one-day companies registered in various regions of the Russian Federation. Clients ' money was transferred to the shadow market under the guise of wholesale and retail trade in tobacco products, construction materials and equipment.

For their services, the accomplices received a reward of at least 13 % of each transaction, having cashed out a total of more than 132 million rubles.

On this fact, the investigator of the SCH GSU of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in Moscow opened a criminal case on the grounds of a crime under part two of Article 172 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Operatives exposed the organizers of illegal activities – a 33-year-old man and his accomplice, who provided accounting services for companies used for fraud. Currently, they are charged with incriminated acts and a preventive measure has been chosen in the form of recognizance not to leave and proper behavior.

During the searches conducted with the participation of Rosgvardiya, electronic storage media, stamps of fictitious companies, as well as fake seals of various credit and state institutions, electronic and digital signatures of company managers, keys to the Bank-Client system, flash drives, bank cards and others were seized in the office of the organization and at the residential addresses of the defendants. items that have evidentiary value for a criminal case.

Operational search measures and investigative actions are being carried out aimed at establishing all the circumstances of illegal activities."

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Employees of the UEBiPK of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Yaroslavl region during operational search activities detained four local residents born in 1977, 1982, 1984 and 1987, suspected of illegal banking activities.

It was previously established that the accomplices, without having a special license, created a financial organization in order to cash out money. In the period from 2019 to June 2023, their clients transferred money on far-fetched pretexts to the accounts of fictitious firms controlled by malefactors. Subsequently, the amounts were cashed out and returned to customers with a commission deduction of 10 %. Carrying out such illegal banking operations, the accomplices received illegal income in the amount of about 100 million rubles. As a shadow bank, they used office premises in the Dzerzhinsk district of Yaroslavl.

12 searches were conducted in the offices and residential addresses of the suspects. Computer equipment, more than 100 bank cards, seals, electronic digital signature keys, accounting documentation of controlled organizations, as well as cash in the amount of more than 1.5 million rubles were seized.

The investigative unit for the investigation of organized criminal activities of the SU of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Yaroslavl region opened a criminal case on the grounds of a crime under paragraph "b" of Part 2 of Article 172 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The defendants were given a preventive measure in the form of recognizance not to leave and proper behavior.

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An investigator of the investigative unit of the Investigative Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Khabarovsk Territory has charged a 57-year-old Khabarovsk resident who, for three years, together with his accomplices, cashed out the funds of so-called clients, receiving a certain percentage for illegal financial transactions.

It is established that the leader of the group attracted four acquaintances to carry out his illegal plans. The organizer had experience in commercial activities, special knowledge in the field of accounting and decided to engage in illegal banking activities, banking operations to provide services to managers of organizations of various forms of ownership and individual entrepreneurs, as well as their representatives who want to cash out the funds available on the accounts of organizations and sole proprietors for a certain commission fee from each transferred amount cash resources.

To do this, he created a criminal network of commercial organizations under his control without the intention of carrying out real entrepreneurial, legitimate banking activities. The accomplices used the bank accounts of these organizations to provide services to the so-called clients for illegal cash withdrawal. Fictitious firms were registered on the attracted members of the group. At the same time, he managed each member of the organized group, defining roles, setting tasks and monitoring their progress, and looking for "clients" to carry out illegal banking operations, as well as negotiating with them about the amount of remuneration.

In turn, the members of the performing group opened settlement accounts in various credit institutions in Khabarovsk, received software from the remote banking service program, cashed out funds from settlement accounts, signed fictitious documents and submitted documents to the tax authority, which confirmed imaginary and fake transactions during desk checks.

The group rented an office in Khabarovsk for meetings and discussion of plans.

In total, for three years of illegal activity, the group members have cashed out at least 28 million rubles.

The investigation of the criminal case initiated on the grounds of crimes provided for in Articles 173.1 "Illegal formation (creation, reorganization) of a legal entity", 187 "Illegal turnover of payment funds", 172 "Illegal banking activities" of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation has been completed. In the near future, the band members and their leader will appear in court.

Earlier, one of the members of the group entered into a pre-trial agreement. The criminal case against her was separated into separate proceedings and sent to the court in September of this year.

The maximum penalty for committing these illegal acts is 7 years of imprisonment.

 

[Brother]

Employees of the Department of Economic Security and Anti-Corruption of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in Nizhny Novgorod stopped the activities of an organized group, whose members are suspected of illegal banking activities.

"According to available data, in the period from January 2019 to October 2023, malefactors, without having registration and special permission, provided services to citizens and legal entities for conducting financial transactions. Having access to the current accounts of fictitious organizations, the accomplices made transfers of funds received from clients to controlled firms and individual entrepreneurs with the purpose of making payments on fictitious grounds. Subsequently, the money was withdrawn from current accounts in the form of cash and transferred to customers.

It was previously established that the income from illegal activities exceeded 146 million rubles.

A criminal case has been opened by an investigator of the General Prosecutor's Office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation for the Nizhny Novgorod Region on the grounds of a crime under Article 172 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

The police detained the alleged organizer, an accountant and five other accomplices who were preparing the necessary payment documents, as well as searching for persons interested in services for cashing out their income," said Irina Volk, an official representative of the Russian Interior Ministry.

Money, mobile phones, computer equipment, over two hundred bank cards, as well as other items and documents of evidentiary value were seized during searches at the suspects ' residential addresses, as well as in seven offices and during the inspection of ten cars.

The events were held with the participation of Rosgvardiya.

"Currently, a preventive measure in the form of a ban on certain actions has been chosen against six defendants, and another is under house arrest. The preliminary investigation continues, " Iryna Volk added.

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[Teacher]

Employees of the Department of Economic Security and Anti-Corruption of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Yaroslavl region stopped the activities of a group whose members provided citizens and legal entities with services for illegal transfer of funds to the current accounts of controlled organizations in order to cash them out. The credit institution was not registered in accordance with the established procedure.

"To implement their plan, the attackers rented office space in the Kirovsky district of Yaroslavl. According to reports, in the period from 2021 to 2024, the accomplices carried out illegal banking operations in the amount of at least 150 million rubles. The commission fee received by them from the received funds exceeds nine million rubles," said Irina Volk, an official representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

A criminal case has been opened by an investigator of the SU Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Yaroslavl region on the grounds of a crime under part two of Article 172 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

"Three residents of Yaroslavl were detained by operatives with the participation of Rosgvardiya. The defendants were given a preventive measure in the form of recognizance not to leave and proper behavior, " Iryna Volk added.

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[Father]

An investigator of the Main Investigation Department of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation for the Kemerovo region – Kuzbass completed the investigation of a criminal case against 9 residents of the city of Novokuznetsk aged from 29 to 56 years. Depending on the role of each individual, they are accused of committing crimes under paragraphs "a" and "b" of Part 2 of Article 172 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation" Illegal banking activities", Part 2 of Article 187 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation"Illegal turnover of payment funds".

During the preliminary investigation, it was established that the defendants, as part of an organized group of 10 people, were engaged in illegal banking activities in the Kemerovo and Novosibirsk regions, the Altai Territory and the city of Moscow. Through front persons, they created fictitious legal entities that did not have banking licenses. At the same time, positioning their activities as the provision of cash collection and cash service services, the defendants accepted various organizations for service and received a percentage of the cash turnover. As a result, the accomplices created 54 fictitious organizations, opened 368 bank accounts. Income from illegal banking activities amounted to more than 195 million rubles.

Employees of the MRO UEBiPK of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Kemerovo region – Kuzbass became aware of the activities of the organized group. As part of the operational measures, a number of persons suspected of committing crimes related to illegal banking activities over a long period of time were identified. In the future, operatives together with investigators of the Main Investigation Department of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Kemerovo region – Kuzbass conducted searches in the offices and homes of the accused, seizing computer equipment, electronic media, seals and documents of evidentiary value. During the investigation, 150 forensic examinations were conducted, including accounting, linguistic, phonoscopic and 103 handwriting examinations. Their results formed the basis of the evidence base confirming the involvement of the defendants.

The investigation established the entire chain of illegal acts of the accused. The role of each member of an organized group is defined. Despite the fact that only one participant admitted his guilt, the investigation managed to collect evidence that allowed all the accomplices to be charged. One of the defendants entered into a pre-trial cooperation agreement, and the criminal case against him is currently under consideration in court.

During the preliminary investigation, funds and other property of the accused totaling more than 17 million rubles were seized for damages.

Currently, the materials of the criminal case have been sent to the court for consideration on the merits. Sanctions of the article of the charge provide for a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison.

 

[Father]

Employees of the Department of Economic Security and Anti-Corruption of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation for the Voronezh Region, together with colleagues from the State Traffic Inspectorate, with the power support of Rosgvardiya fighters, as a result of operational search measures, detained seven members of an organized criminal group aged from 26 to 63 years, suspected of illegal banking activities.

It was previously established that the attackers created an illegal banking system with a wide range of financial services and engaged in illegal business in the period from January 2020 to January 2023.

The greatest demand was for the cash withdrawal service. For this purpose, the current accounts of 27 one-day firms controlled by the suspects were used. Clients of shadow bankers transferred funds to them on fictitious grounds, which were then cashed out and returned after deducting a commission of 6.5 %. During this period, the criminal turnover amounted to more than 400 million rubles, and the income of malefactors exceeded 26 million rubles.

Police conducted 10 searches, during which they seized computer equipment, seals of affiliated companies, bank cards, financial and economic documentation and other items of evidentiary value.

An investigator of the Main Investigative Department of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation for the Voronezh Region opened a criminal case against members of a criminal group on the grounds of a crime under part 2 of Article 172 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

The defendants fully admitted their guilt in what they had done, and the accomplices were given a measure of procedural compulsion in the form of an obligation to appear.

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[Father]

Operatives of the Economic Security and Anti-Corruption Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation for the Voronezh Region detained members of an organized group on suspicion of illegal banking activities.

It is established that in the period from 2019 to 2024, the attackers carried out operations to withdraw money from legal circulation. For this purpose, they used controlled one-day firms, to whose current accounts clients ' funds were transferred on fictitious grounds. A 12% commission was charged for each transaction. The accomplices extracted criminal income in the amount of more than 20 million rubles.

As a result of operational search activities, employees of the UEBiPK of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Voronezh Region detained four suspects, they turned out to be local residents aged 40 to 50 years. 10 searches were conducted at their residential addresses and office premises. Seals and constituent documents of controlled organizations engaged in pseudo-construction activities, electronic keys of the Client-Bank system, computer equipment and mobile phones, as well as other items and documents of evidentiary value were seized. The events were held with the participation of Rosgvardiya soldiers.

A criminal case has been opened by the investigator of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation for the Voronezh Region on the grounds of a crime under paragraphs "a, b" of Part 2 of Article 172 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation "Illegal banking activity".

 

[Father]

Employees of the Economic Security Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Ivanovo region identified and documented a criminal scheme for illegal cash withdrawal.

It is established that under the leadership of six citizens, the organizers of the scam, 23 commercial organizations were created, whose nominee directors were appointed close relatives or friends of the defendants. These controlled organizations entered into fictitious loan agreements with individuals for amounts ranging from 5,000,000 to 50,000,000 rubles. These agreements were notarized and provided for the repayment of borrowed amounts within ten days. After the expiration of the specified period, individuals (lenders) applied to the notary in order to obtain an executive inscription, which in a shorter time, bypassing court proceedings, allows them to recover funds that were not returned by the debtor. Having received an enforcement inscription, an individual controlled by the organizers of the scam, in order to recover a debt that did not actually exist, provided it to the bailiffs ' service employees.

On the basis of these documents, enforcement proceedings were initiated, and the current accounts of the organization that allegedly did not repay the debt were seized. The defendants in the criminal case, having made sure that the settlement accounts of the organization under their control were arrested, accepted the finances of various organizations interested in cashing money in non-cash form to these accounts. The money received, according to the documents, was intended to pay for the delivery of goods or perform any work that was not actually performed. Further, the funds received from the cashing customers to the seized settlement accounts were debited in favor of the individual. The money was cashed out using a bank card and placed at the disposal of the organizers of the criminal scheme.

Persons involved in illegal enrichment charged a commission of at least 10.5 % of the amount of funds received, after which they returned cash to the customers in cash, minus the specified commission.

As a result of criminal activity, the organizers of the criminal scheme for cashing out money received an income of at least 16,000,000 rubles.

The Investigative Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Ivanovo region opened a criminal case under part 2, paragraph b of Article 172 (illegal banking activities involving the recovery of income on a particularly large scale). His materials with the indictment were sent to the court.

 

[Friend]

Employees of the UEBiPK of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, with the military support of fighters of the regional department of Regardie, during operational search activities, detained a 39-year-old local resident suspected of illegal banking activities at the place of residence in Cherkessk.

According to the police, in the period from 2017 to 2024, the attacker, without having state registration and the appropriate permit, made illegal financial transactions to cash out funds. To carry out his criminal business, the man used banking details and current accounts of several controlled legal entities and individual entrepreneurs, who in reality did not conduct any financial and economic activities. According to preliminary data, more than 176 million rubles were transferred to his accounts on fictitious grounds by clients, and illegal income amounted to more than 17 million rubles.

During the search at the place of residence of the detainee, the police found and seized mobile phones and accounting documents.

The investigative unit of the Investigative Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic opened a criminal case against the suspect on the grounds of a crime under paragraph "b" of part 2 of Article 172 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The defendant was given a preventive measure in the form of recognizance not to leave and proper behavior.

The investigation continues.

• Video: https://mvdmedia.ru/upload/medialibrary/cb9/tlpy901saevay6rl297cc0mxkgvrn3yr.mp4

 

[Friend]

Employees of the UEBiPK of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Nizhny Novgorod region, together with colleagues from the criminal investigation department of the regional Headquarters, detained three suspects in illegal banking activities.

"It was previously established that the attackers created a company that provided illegal banking services to other firms. Their goal was to obtain funds not controlled by the tax authorities and reduce tax deductions.

The defendants actually carried out banking operations without a license or registration: they opened and maintained accounts for representatives of client companies, provided cash services for them. As a commission for their services, group members charged at least 14%. Income from illegal activities exceeded 27 million rubles," said Irina Volk, an official representative of the Russian Interior Ministry.

As a result of operational search activities, police officers with the power support of Rosgvardiya employees detained the suspects. 24 searches were conducted, during which 1.5 million rubles, seals, documents, bank cards, electronic media, communications equipment and other items of evidentiary value were seized.

"The investigative authorities opened a criminal case on the grounds of a crime under part 2 of Article 172 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The defendants were given a preventive measure in the form of recognizance not to leave and proper behavior," Iryna Volk added.

• Video: https://rutube.ru/video/91625bbfa0515845085a2841df376954/?r=plemwd

 

[Friend]

Operatives of the GUEBiPK of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, together with colleagues from the city of Moscow, stopped illegal banking activities. A resident of the capital, who is suspected of organizing this criminal business, was detained.

"According to the investigation, the offender and her accomplices conducted illegal activities for the transit and cashing of financial funds of individuals and legal entities. They were transferred to the current accounts of firms controlled by the swindlers through a chain of commercial organizations and were subsequently stolen.

For illegal transactions, the accomplices used the details of about 70 companies, which declared services in various fields as their main activity. Payments were made on fictitious grounds.

According to preliminary data, as a reward, pseudo-bankers received at least 1% of the cashed amount, while their income amounted to tens of millions of rubles, "said the official representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia Irina Volk.

The investigator of the SC of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in Moscow initiated a criminal case on the grounds of a crime under part 2 of article 172 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The organizer was charged and a preventive measure was chosen in the form of a recognizance not to leave and proper behavior.

"During the searches carried out on the territory of the Moscow region, the police seized documents, seals, bank cards, electronic media, communications and other items of evidentiary value.

A set of operational-search measures and investigative actions is being carried out to identify accomplices in illegal activities," added Irina Volk.

• Video: https://rutube.ru/video/888d2d38df2cb9e053fab76188236712/?r=plemwd

 

[Friend]

The investigator of the Investigative Unit of the Investigative Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Bryansk Region completed a preliminary investigation against the members of the organized group. They are accused of illegal banking activities, illegal formation of a legal entity and illegal circulation of means of payment.

"According to the investigation, illegal activities were carried out for almost 10 years. The attackers carried out illegal cashing operations", said the official representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia Irina Volk.

Payments were received on the settlement accounts of individual entrepreneurs and commercial organizations controlled by the accused, registered in the name of nominees. In fact, the money was cashed out and transferred to customers. For their services, the members of the group charged a commission. The total turnover of the criminal business amounted to about two billion rubles.

"The crimes were revealed by employees of the Department of Economic Security and Anti-Corruption of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Bryansk region. During the searches, communication equipment, computer equipment, data carriers, seals, bank cards, fictitious documents with the help of which financial and economic activities were imitated, cash and other items of evidentiary value were seized from the defendants.

At present, the investigation has been completed, the criminal case with the indictment approved by the prosecutor has been sent to court", Irina Volk added.

 

[Friend]

Operatives of the Department of Economic Security and Anti-Corruption of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in Moscow, together with colleagues from the BSTM of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, suppressed the illegal banking activities of a cross-border group that carried out the withdrawal of funds abroad in the form of cryptocurrency with the extraction of income on an especially large scale.

"It was preliminarily established that the attackers, in violation of the legislation of the Russian Federation, provided services for cashing and transferring funds through banking operations, cash services for individuals, selling foreign currency in cash and non-cash forms, including in the form of electronic payments.

For the purpose of conspiracy, the accomplices acted under the signs of travel companies, whose offices were located in the business center on Presnenskaya Embankment, as well as in other areas of the capital. Interaction with potential "customers" was carried out through a chat in one of the messengers.

Also, shadow bankers provided "services" for the withdrawal of financial assets in the form of cryptocurrency outside the Russian Federation. They used crypto wallets to which customer funds were transferred as payment. In reality, financial and economic activities were not carried out.

For each transaction, the participants in the criminal scheme charged a commission fee of at least one percent of the transfer amount. According to preliminary estimates, the illegal turnover exceeded 200 million rubles, "said the official representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia Irina Volk.

An investigator of the SC of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in Moscow initiated a criminal case on the grounds of a crime under part two of article 172 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

During searches in the offices and at the addresses of residence of the defendants, money in various currencies, seals, electronic media, communications, as well as other items and documents of evidentiary value were seized.

"At present, the alleged organizer of the illegal activity has been charged with the incriminated act and a preventive measure has been chosen in the form of a recognizance not to leave and proper behavior.

Operational-search measures and investigative actions aimed at identifying accomplices, as well as other circumstances that are important for the investigation, continue", Irina Volk said.

 

[Man]

As a result of the operational-search measures, officers of the Directorate for Economic Security and Anti-Corruption of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Ivanovo Region identified, documented and suppressed the activities of an organized criminal group, whose members were engaged in illegal banking activities.

As the police found out, the criminal business was organized by a 53-year-old resident of the city of Ivanovo. Together with three fellow countrymen, he, not having the registration of a credit institution and the availability of the necessary license, for a long time carried out illegal operations to cash out funds to individuals and legal entities who applied to him.

Thus, the leader of the criminal group, acting on behalf of controlled organizations registered in the name of nominees, entered into fictitious transactions with customers for the sale of textile products to them or the provision of services related to construction and cargo transportation. Further, he, together with his accomplices, using fake electronic payment orders, received payment to the accounts of affiliated companies. In the future, the accomplices cashed the money and gave it to customers, keeping 11% of the amount as a reward.

During the implementation of illegal banking transactions, more than 140 million rubles were credited to the accounts of organizations controlled by a 53-year-old resident of the city of Ivanovo, and the amount of illegal income derived by him and his accomplices amounted to more than 15.5 million rubles.

The police conducted searches at the places of residence of all members of the organized criminal group, as well as in the offices they used to carry out illegal activities. Computer equipment, documentation, mobile phones, digital signatures, as well as other items indicating illegal banking transactions were seized.

A criminal case was initiated against the suspects by investigators of the Investigative Committee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Ivanovo Region on the grounds of a crime under Part 2 of Article 172 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. At the time of the investigation, the organizer of the criminal business was chosen a preventive measure in the form of house arrest. Three more defendants were released on their own recognizance.

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