In Minsk sentenced to a group of cyber criminals: up to 10 years in prison for damage of 2.5 million BYN

The court of the Frunze district announced the verdict of five members of the organized group accused of large-scale cyber fraud. The defendants were found guilty of fraud and embezzlement of funds by modifying computer information, the correspondent of the Minsk-Novosti agency reports, citing the press service of the Minsk City Court.

As established during the proceedings, the total damage from the actions of criminals exceeded 2.5 million BYN. The trial was one of the most ambitious: the volume of materials of the criminal case amounted to more than 400 volumes. More than 1,700 witnesses and victims were questioned in court, and about 1,500 civil claims for compensation for property and moral damage were satisfied.

The criminal scheme worked as follows: first, the attackers searched for the so-called “drops” – citizens who provided their bank details for a fee. Then the data was transferred to the “bluger” abroad, he transferred the stolen money to controlled accounts. In the future, the funds were cashed through ATMs or converted into cryptocurrency.

Also, the group members posted ads for renting apartments on the Internet, received prepayment from customers and stopped communicating. In addition, posing as bank employees or other competent specialists, the defendants lured confidential information from citizens. At the same time, fraudsters persuaded victims to install remote access applications or click on phishing links under the pretext of “receiving money”, “confirmation of delivery” or “refining the address”.

The court found the accused guilty of incriminated crimes committed by an organized group on a large and especially large scale. They are sentenced to imprisonment for a term of 8 years 6 months to 10 years with a fine of 8.5 thousand to 22 thousand BYN.

At the moment, the sentence has not entered into legal force and can be appealed and challenged in the manner prescribed by law.