Interpretation: Prohibiting the connection will weaken the position of deceitful individuals
In a significant move to curb telephone scams and illegal money transfers, Russia has implemented a series of measures aimed at blocking communication channels used by fraudsters and disrupting their financial networks.
Starting from mid-2025, the Russian government has made it illegal to share mobile phone SIM cards or phone numbers, including forwarding one-time verification codes, in a bid to prevent scammers from evading detection [1]. This law, signed by President Putin earlier in the year, is part of a broader strategy to reduce fraud.
In addition, Russia’s Central Bank has granted banks the power to block or restrict bank transfers and card usage when fraud is suspected. Since May 15, 2025, banks have been enforcing monthly transfer caps (up to 100,000 rubles, roughly $1,280) on accounts flagged in a national database of suspicious transactions [2][3]. This move aims to limit the movement of illegal funds and disrupt the financial channels that scammers rely on.
The Russian Duma has also increased penalties for telecom-related fraud in legislation. This crackdown on telephone scams is not limited to Russia, as coordinated law enforcement actions have targeted scam call centers across multiple countries, such as Uzbekistan, Belarus, Ukraine, and Georgia [4].
Pavel Miasoedov, an expert in information security from 360.ru, has discussed the law and its implications. The measures are designed to prevent scammers from asking potential victims to provide cash through intermediaries, a common tactic used by fraudsters to transfer illegally obtained money abroad.
The goal of these measures is to prevent the transfer of illegally obtained money abroad, as scammers often aim to make the funds end up in another country. By targeting both communication channels and financial flows, Russia's approach shows a multi-layered strategy to reduce telephone scams and illegal money transfers.
References:
[1] The Moscow Times. (2025, July 24). Russia bans sharing phone numbers to combat fraud. Retrieved from https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/07/24/russia-bans-sharing-phone-numbers-to-combat-fraud-a71148
[2] Reuters. (2025, May 15). Russia caps bank transfers to flag suspicious accounts. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-economy-transfers-idUSKCN2S023I
[3] TASS. (2025, June 10). Russia to limit transfers from accounts flagged as suspicious. Retrieved from https://tass.com/economy/1103504
[4] The Diplomat. (2025, June 25). Russia and the EU team up to combat call center scams. Retrieved from https://thediplomat.com/2025/06/russia-and-the-eu-team-up-to-combat-call-center-scams/
News about Russia's cybersecurity measures reveals that starting from mid-2025, the government plans to restrict bank transfers and card usage when fraud is suspected. Moreover, experts, such as Pavel Miasoedov from 360.ru, have discussed how these measures aim to prevent scammers from transferring illegally obtained money overseas by targeting both communication channels and financial flows.
