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25 Russians charged in large-scale U.S. banking fraud
25 Russians charged in large-scale U.S. banking fraud
© AFP/ Daniel Barry/Getty ImagesRelated News
25 Russians accused of stealing $3 mln from U.S. bank accountsA total of 25 Russians have been charged in a large-scale banking fraud case in the United States, the Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York said on Friday.
The Russians are believed to have been involved in a global cyber crime scheme that resulted in over $3 million being stolen from U.S. bank accounts. Charges brought against them include conspiracy to commit bank fraud, money laundering and passport fraud.
The Russians, all aged 20-26, are among a large group of detainees arrested by the FBI on Thursday, many of whom had arrived in the United States on student visas from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and Kazakhstan.
Prosecutors said most of the detainees had been used by East European hackers as "money mules" to open bank accounts later used to receive and transfer the stolen funds. They may face up to 30 years in prison as well as fines of up to $1 million.
The fraudulent scheme used the Zeus Trojan virus. When computer users clicked on a link or opened an attached file, malware was activated, which noted usernames and passwords that the victims typed on infected computers, the FBI said.
The FBI said the arrestees received 8-10 percent of funds stolen from bank accounts as payment for their illegal activities.
"The mouse and the keyboard can be far more effective than the gun and the mask," U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara told journalists.
NEW YORK, October 1 (RIA Novosti)
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- arnoldvinette@yahoo.comSneaky Russian men01:44, 02/10/2010I have dealt with my fair share of sneaky Russian men who try to trick you out of your money.
Normally these men will pose as beautiful Russian women online who will very quickly declare their undying love to you. If it is TOO good to be true, trust me on this it is! Joke!
This is the first time however that I have heard of Russian men coming overseas to America to open up bank accounts to receive swindled funds. Unfortunately they came over to America and are rules are a little bit more strict here.
Live and learn.
Russian men also run fraudulent credit card scams and so financial institutions have to be very careful.
All Russian men are not villains and I have met some very nice ones on my travels to Russia.
Russian police and Russian authorities do not like to see these activities taking place and will work with you to catch the law breakers.
In this particular it was much easier as the Russian suspects were in America. The more difficult cases involve Russian scammers. These are Russian men posing as beautiful Russian women. In order to convict these scammers the victim must fly over, travel to the perpetrators village, and then file a police complaint in that village. The difficulty for westerners traveling in Russia due to language differences makes prosecuting these criminals very difficult.
As a point of note for Americans and Canadians who have been victimized by a Russian scammer in many cases it is young men 20-26 simply trying to feed, clothe and house their young family. This I have learned from first hand experience.
Arnold Vinette
Arnold Vinette is actively involved in promoting positive relations between Russia, Canada and the United States using the artwork and short stories from the kids in their respective countries. A recent proposal sent to Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon has now been forwarded to the Minister of CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency ) Beverley J. Oda for for approval and funding of a $100 million project that will process 5 million pieces of student artwork from Russia for a series of "Russian Kids Art Album eBooks" creating 1,025 jobs in Ottawa / Gatineau Canada. The goal to promote better understanding of modern Russia, its people, culture, traditions and modern lifestyle. If successful the project will involve Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Russian International Development Agency, eventually gaining support from President Dmitry Medvedev and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
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