A Warning about the categorical prohibition for citizens to provide their bank cards and electronic wallets, as well as their data, to any third parties for the purpose of laundering or withdrawing proceeds of crime, including those derived from thesale of narcotic drugs, which creates risks of their use in drug trafficking.
Fraudsters seek "drops" to simplifytheir operations. These are individuals who "run" funds obtained through criminalmeans, including proceeds from the sale of narcotic drugs, through their cardsfor subsequent cash withdrawal.
For this scheme, fraudstersneed access to the banking details of their victims. .
They steal thisinformation in various ways:
1. Job interviews. Duringinterviews, fraudsters ask the victim to fill out a form and provide thedetails of the cards registered in the applicant's name. If the person agrees,fraudsters will have no obstacles in using the accounts to "run"criminal proceeds.
2. Fake banking apps. Fraudsters createapplications that closely mimic the official services of major banks, usingsimilar colors and logos that resemble the real ones. If the person does notnotice the deception, downloads the fake app, and enters their details, thefraudsters gain access to their card data.
Therefore, never download applications from unknown websites or links sent toyou allegedly on behalf of your bank. Check information about the currentversion of your bank’s application on its official website.·
3. Social engineering. This involves psychologicalmanipulation aimed at making a person voluntarily disclose their bank carddetails. Once the criminals obtain the necessary information, they"run" their proceeds through the victim’s cards.
How to protect yourself? There are several rules thatcan reduce the risk of fraudsters using your bank cards and accounts forcriminal purposes
1. Be cautious when looking for a job. Do not trustpromises of high earnings for minimal effort. If, during an interview, anemployer asks you to fill out a form or says you need to register bank cards,terminate the interaction. Remember: there is no longer a “salary slavery”system—employers must pay salaries to a card convenient for you.
2. Use only official banking applications. If you are unsureabout the source’s reliability, call your bank’s hotline to find out where andhow you can download the official service.
3. Avoid transfers to unknown accounts. If you receivefunds from an unknown source, do not fall for the interlocutor’s persuasion anddo not rush to return the money to the provided account details. Advise theperson to contact their bank to document all transactions.
4. Keep your banking details secure. Never discloseyour bank card details, CVC codes, or passwords to access online banking tostrangers.
5. Use only trusted online resources. If you frequentlyshop online, open a separate card specifically for this purpose.
6. Enable two-factor authentication for your accounts. Use differentcomplex passwords for each account and update them regularly.
Why working as a drop is dangerous? Some may thinkthey are simply making transactions without any criminal implications. Inreality, drops become part of criminal activity: Fraud; Laundering of proceeds of crime.
Remember: fraudsters deliberately use only third-party accounts and cards. If the criminal scheme is exposed, they will simply disappear, and you will be held responsible.
Holders of electronic payment instrumentsshould remember their liability for knowingly transferring them to thirdparties. Liability for intentional involvement infraudulent activities arises under Articles 28 and 190 of the Criminal Code ofthe Republic of Kazakhstan and provides for up to 10 years of imprisonment.
As for material liability, there are already cases where drops have been charged the full amount of the funds they cashed out, which were recognized as unjust enrichment (Article 953 of the Civil Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan).
