The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs is seeking the authority to swiftly suspend citizens’ bank transactions in an effort to combat fraud. Alexei Plotnitsky, head of the Criminal Law Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, announced this initiative on June 11.

The proposed mechanism aims to promptly halt the transfer of funds, particularly in cases where individuals have fallen victim to telephone scams. The goal is to interrupt the flow of money in cases of IT crime more efficiently. Currently, obtaining approval for such actions requires navigating multiple departments.

Plotnitsky emphasized that the initiative would not infringe upon banking secrecy. He also stated that the most significant personal data leaks originate from credit organizations, rather than governmental bodies.

Victims of telephone scams come from all walks of life, including IT professionals and scientists. Recently, a St. Petersburg-based specialist in Arctic ecosystems lost 9.6 million rubles after being targeted by fraudsters.

To raise awareness and protect citizens, the Department for Combating Illegal Use of Information and Communication Technologies of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region has launched the Telegram channel “Leningrad Cyber-Guardian.” The channel provides information on fraud schemes, analysis of cyber threats, and ways to protect against them, as well as videos of criminal detentions.