Ministry of Education informs, that in the teenage and youth environment in 2022 cases of fraud under the pretext of helping relatives have become more frequent, who allegedly became the perpetrators of the traffic accident and in order to compensate for the damage or not to hold them accountable, it is necessary to transfer a large amount of money.

Attackers made calls via IP-telephony from subscriber numbers of various countries (The Republic of Moldova, Latvian republic, Republic of Lithuania, the Russian Federation, Republic of Estonia, Republic of Armenia, etc.). Usually, calls were made to landlines. Unknown people persuaded a person to believe, that his close relative is really calling him, who is in trouble. After a short conversation, the scammers asked to provide a mobile phone number to continue the conversation and not to interrupt the connection on a landline phone., so that no one can get through to this citizen. After a while, another person joined the conversation, who introduced himself as an investigator and continued to “play a show”.

For gullible citizens, scammers were looking for couriers, who took money or asked to transfer funds by international transfer. Of particular concern is the fact, that minors are increasingly involved as couriers in this criminal scheme. Adolescents find similar part-time jobs in the Telegram messenger. During the correspondence, they are offered to take money from one person, transfer them to another and receive for it as payment 15% from the amount of money, which were transmitted. Instructions are also provided on the rules of conduct when communicating with citizens and methods of conspiracy.

IN 2022 year by minors and with their participation has already been committed 11 similar crimes, 9 of which - in May of the current year. For example, I., 2004 g.r., student of the State Educational Institution "Secondary School No. 59 r. Minsk", under the pretext of providing financial assistance to a relative, involved in a traffic accident, by deceit and breach of trust, 18.05.2022 took possession of the money 2 000 rubles and 3 000 US dollars from citizen A.

At the same time, I. recognized as a suspect 6 similar facts.

In these cases, underage couriers are liable under the law on an equal basis with other participants in criminal schemes.. Age of prosecution for fraud (article 209 Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus) - with 16 years. The sanction of the article provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term of up to 10 years.