Release:
2026. Vol. 12.. № 2 (46)About the authors:
Viktor I. Morozov, Cand. Sci. (Jur.), Associate Professor of the Academic Department, School of Law and Management, University of Tyumen, Tyumen, Russia v.i.morozov@utmn.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0627-4083Abstract:
Russia is experiencing an explosive growth in crimes related to fraud using information and communication networks. One of the links in the system of theft is the so-called droppers — people who assist fraudsters in withdrawing stolen funds from the banking system. Until relatively recently, the fight against droppers was complicated by the fact that their participation in criminal schemes did not imply awareness of the criminal origin of the funds that the dropper transferred to accounts, cashed out, or otherwise assisted the criminals who had stolen the funds. Changes that were made to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in terms of amendments to Article 187 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation allow for the prosecution of droppers regardless of their involvement in fraudulent schemes. This article is devoted to the analysis of these changes.Keywords:
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