Russia has established criminal penalties for individuals who intentionally drop credit cards, money, or any valuables in public places, a practice known as "dropping."
In recent years, Russia has enacted strict laws to regulate internet activity and combat extremism. However, when it comes to the specific issue of minors becoming involved in cyber fraud, there seems to be a gap in the legislation.
Underage users may not fully comprehend the danger of interacting with strangers on social media, potentially putting them at risk of criminal responsibility. One such role they might unknowingly assume is that of a 'dropper' - individuals who assist scammers in cashing out stolen money by providing their personal data, bank cards, or accounts.
The law that establishes criminal liability for droppers was enacted on July 5, 2025, as part of Federal Law No. 176-FZ, which amended Article 187 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. This law prohibits the transfer of payment data to criminals and involvement in operations with stolen funds.
However, publicly available search results do not provide direct information on specific laws or prevention strategies in Russia aimed explicitly at deterring minors from becoming droppers involved in cyberfraud.
Experts such as Vitaly Ivashchenko, Alexander Brod, Vyacheslav Sbitnev, and Sergei Myshak have emphasized the need for stricter control over underage use of bank cards, effective educational work with youth, and the importance of teaching minors to resist scammers. Yuri Kozhevnikov shared a chilling case of a 16-year-old boy who became a 'dropper' and was charged with two counts of fraud.
Despite the lack of explicit legislation, the rise in cyberfraud attempts against young people indicates a growing problem that may prompt future responses. As cyber fraud prevention in a general sense is recognized as a challenge, especially amid increased internet censorship and control measures, it is crucial to address this issue specifically for minors.
If you encounter suspicious requests or believe someone you know may be at risk, always report them to your bank and the police. Remember, handing over your bank cards or electronic wallets to criminals can lead to criminal punishment.
As we move forward, it is essential for the Russian government to consider targeted prevention programs, education campaigns, or legal provisions explicitly designed to protect minors from becoming droppers or cyberfraud facilitators. Consulting Russian legal databases, government publications, or specialized cybersecurity policy analyses could provide insights into youth-targeted anti-cybercrime measures not covered in the current open-source reports.
- The law that targets individuals who assist scammers in cashing out stolen money, known as 'droppers', was enacted in Russia on July 5, 2025, as part of Federal Law No. 176-FZ, which amended Article 187 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
- Despite the law, publicly available search results do not provide direct information on specific laws or prevention strategies in Russia aimed explicitly at deterring minors from becoming droppers involved in cyberfraud.
- Experts stress the need for stricter control over underage use of bank cards, effective educational work with youth, and teaching minors to resist scammers, considering the chilling case of a 16-year-old boy charged with two counts of fraud for becoming a 'dropper'.
- As cyber fraud prevention is a challenge due to increased internet censorship and control measures, it is crucial to address this issue specifically for minors.
- If you suspect suspicious activity or believe someone you know may be at risk, always report it to your bank and the police, as handing over your bank cards or electronic wallets to criminals can lead to criminal punishment.
