Fraudulent schemes that most often involve teenagers are named

October 30, MINSK . Deputy HEAD of the prevention department of the law enforcement and prevention department of the Central Internal Affairs Directorate of the Minsk City Executive Committee Dmitry Meleshko spoke at a press conference on seasonal negative factors affecting the state of public safety about types of fraud involving minors, BELTA correspondent reports.

In particular, in Minsk in 2022, 11 criminal cases were initiated against teenagers for bank fraud - illegal distribution of bank card details. Article 222 of the Criminal Code implies imprisonment for up to 10 years. “It makes no difference to fraudsters whether they are an adult or a minor. By offering fraudulent schemes, they involve children in criminal activities,” said Dmitry Meleshko. “On the Internet you can find advertisements for the sale of bank card details. Minors, in search of income, apply for bank cards for themselves in any of the banks, then the details are sold to a third party."

Also common types of fraud are vishing and phishing. Using a phone, under any pretext, the attacker lures bank card details from the victim and then withdraws money. Phishing is associated with illegal access to personal information (login, password, etc.). The user's money is withdrawn from a fake Internet resource with an offer to go using fake details to the page of a particular payment resource.

Another type of offense is swatting, or false reporting of danger. “This is by no means a prank, not a game. Services respond promptly to reports of danger. Such a crime carries penalties of up to 5 years in prison. The age of prosecution is 14 years. Plus, parents will have to compensate for the damage caused to the state,” said the representative Municipal Department of Internal Affairs.

Young people are also involved in the drug business. The popularity of the Internet among young people is used by sellers of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, recruiting new personnel (courier, pawnbroker, stencil maker, etc.) from among minors. They not only offer seemingly well-paid jobs that do not require much physical or time investment, but also give teenagers a false sense of security and protection from detention.

“The age of prosecution for the illegal sale of narcotic drugs begins at 14 years old, the sanction of the article provides for up to 15 years of imprisonment (in the event of the death of the person to whom the drug was sold - up to 25 years). In addition to drug dealers, such concepts as “sportsmen” and “stencilers” have appeared ". "Sportsmen" are those who, at the direction of the curator, exert physical and psychological pressure on a drug courier who has defrauded an online store. Punishments can range up to causing grievous bodily harm. In the case of "stencilers" we are talking about a new direction - advertising of online stores. The teenager is given a stencil with the name of the store, a can of paint and sent out onto the streets of the city. This is also an offense under Article 328 (illegal drug trafficking in an organized group),” explained Dmitry Meleshko.

In the capital, there are also scams involving false requests for help, etc. Popular trends among young people are “flat” and “list”, when a gathering is organized in an empty or rented apartment. “Complete strangers are invited to meetings. When a company gathers, alcoholic beverages are drunk, drugs are taken. Violent actions can be committed,” noted Dmitry Meleshko. He advised parents not to lose their vigilance, especially during the holidays. StolichnayaThe police, for their part, are carrying out preventive actions.