The investigative department of the Russian Interior Ministry for Veliky Novgorod has initiated a criminal case under Part 3 of Article 274.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (illegal use of communication terminals). A 20-year-old citizen of Uzbekistan was arrested as a suspect in the case. The operation was conducted in cooperation with officers from the regional Federal Security Service (FSB).
According to the investigation, between June 1 and July 21 of this year, the suspect installed and maintained equipment that converts internet traffic into mobile communication at four residential locations in the city. These technical devices enabled fraudsters to make calls and send SMS messages using numbers from Russian mobile operators.
For his activities, the suspect received approximately 17,000 rubles per week. During searches conducted by law enforcement officers, two GSM gateways, a laptop, a phone, and other technical equipment were seized as physical evidence.
By court order, the suspect has been placed in custody. Investigative actions are currently ongoing to determine all the details of the crime, identify other individuals involved in the scheme, and locate citizens who have fallen victim to the fraudulent activities.
