Bureau of Economic Security uncovered a network of processing centers: through drops, the accounts of online casino players were topped up

Bureau of Economic Security uncovered a network of processing centers: through drops, the accounts of online casino players were topped up

Bureau of Economic Security, with the support of the National Bank, uncovered a group of individuals who organized the operation of illegal processing centers. They illegally topped up online casino players’ accounts using p2p transfers to drop cards. 

This was reported by the press service of the BES.

It is reported that the illegal offices operated in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Zhytomyr, Kremenchuk, and Kryvyi Rih.

According to the investigation, the suspects set up automated top-up systems for online casino players’ accounts using p2p transfers to drop card accounts. Furthermore, the group was involved in legalizing funds obtained from organizing gambling.

Specifically, they transferred them to the accounts of controlled sole proprietors, sent them to other drops, and purchased USDT cryptocurrency on p2p platforms. Additionally, the centers made payments to online casino players.

Organizers established a constant flow of drops. They provided their personal data for opening bank accounts in exchange for a reward. Moreover, detectives identified about 4,000 individuals whose bank accounts were used without their knowledge.

Funds ranging from 500 to 30,000 hryvnias were deposited into drop accounts per transaction. Approximately 150,000 UAH per month accumulated in each account, which were then used for illegal activities.

From a single mobile device, office employees could manage 450 drop accounts. And process up to 5 million UAH of turnover non-cash funds per day.

Mainly, bank accounts were opened in "Monobank", "A-Bank", "PUMB", "Izibank", "Vostok Bank", "Globus Bank", "Sense Bank", "Kredobank", "MTB Bank", "Privatbank", "OTP Bank", "Ukrgasbank". The IP addresses from which the network connections were made mainly belonged to Turkish providers.

During the searches, law enforcement officers seized about 400 mobile devices, 50 computer equipment units (laptops and desktop computers), approximately 5,000 SIM cards of mobile operators, 500 bank cards of individual drops, bank account opening applications from individuals, and so on.

Currently, a pre-trial investigation is underway in the criminal proceedings for criminal offenses provided for by three articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

• Part 2 of Art. 203-2 – illegal activity of organizing or conducting gambling, lotteries,
• Part 3 of Art. 212 – tax evasion, fees (mandatory payments),
• Part 3 of Art. 209 – legalization (laundering) of proceeds obtained by criminal means.